Victor Wembanyama, the French basketball star, expressed his support for teenagers protesting conditions in the nation's schools during a news conference on Thursday. According to the Ministry of the Interior, 71,500 people participated in the demonstrations that day, including 24,500 in the central Paris march at Place de la Bastille.
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Wembanyama described the issues as systemic inequalities and stated, "These are problems so deep-rooted that, in fact, I’m glad that high-school students and young people in general are speaking up. I hear them, and I support them, and I hope the people all over there will do the same."
The San Antonio Spurs player had previously responded positively to a fan on Instagram who invited him to join the protests. He reiterated his connection to the issue, saying, "I have a lot of interest. I meant it. I was in that position not so long ago."
Wembanyama, who attended high school in Nanterre, recalled that his school was already a hub for student protests at that time, specifically noting the student-led blockades known as "blocages". The recent protests were sparked by concerns over state school conditions, teacher absences, and inadequate facilities, and have grown into a larger movement addressing issues of inequality, low public spending, and declining educational standards.