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Libertarian and Leftist Students Clash at La Plata University Faculty
🇦🇷 Argentina /Culture & Society

Libertarian and Leftist Students Clash at La Plata University Faculty

From La Nación · (49m ago) Spanish Critical tone

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Clashes erupted between libertarian and leftist student groups at the Faculty of Psychology in La Plata, Argentina.
  • Libertarian students reported being intimidated and physically assaulted when attempting to set up political tables.
  • The incident highlights broader tensions in universities related to the Milei government's funding policies and ideological disputes.

A physical confrontation has broken out at the National University of La Plata's Faculty of Psychology, pitting libertarian student groups against those aligned with the left and Kirchnerism. The incident, which involved insults and fistfights, saw libertarian students, identified with 'Universitarios por la Libertad' (UPL), allegedly being forced to remove their political tables by leftist organizations.

The denialism, the machismo, and the psychiatric logics will not pass.

— Peronist organizationsStatement from Peronist organizations in videos that circulated online.

According to UPL, they were subjected to intimidation and aggression simply for trying to engage in peaceful political activity. 'We are students who want to organize peacefully, we don't bother anyone and we don't want anyone to bother us. It's basic for democracy,' a UPL representative stated, emphasizing their right to political expression.

We are students who want to organize peacefully, we don't bother anyone and we don't want anyone to bother us. It's basic for democracy.

— Universitarios por la Libertad (UPL)Statement to the press regarding the incident.

Conversely, the leftist group Tesis XI denied the accusations, claiming instead that the libertarians were the aggressors. They issued a strong statement against the libertarian movement, denouncing their stances on university funding, historical memory, mental health laws, and what they termed a 'deeply misogynistic government.' This ideological clash underscores the deep divisions present within the university and reflects the broader political polarization gripping Argentina.

Thus they beat up colleagues.

— Tesis XIAccusation made by the leftist group Tesis XI in a video posted on social media.

The conflict at the Faculty of Psychology is emblematic of wider tensions across Argentine universities. It comes in the wake of President Javier Milei's administration's controversial decisions regarding university funding, which have led to significant protests and a planned federal university march. Rectors, faculty, and students are demanding the application of university funding laws, with reported cuts to transfers significantly impacting university operations. This incident at La Plata is a microcosm of the larger struggle for the future of public higher education in the country.

We say very clearly that the libertarians who defund the university, deny the figure of the 30,000 disappeared detainees, who want to modify the Mental Health Law so that asylums return and defend a profoundly misogynistic government are not welcome in the Faculty of Psychology and that we will not remain silent in the face of violence.

— Tesis XIStatement from the leftist group Tesis XI explaining their position.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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