Cranbury township police today used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse a protest at the Cranbury School over proposals to cut French language classes from the lower-grade curriculum.
The police action caused mass hysteria at the site and led to the hospitalization of more than 10 students due to respiratory issues and burns. Nearly 50 students, ranging from kindergarten to second grade, were involved in the protest.
“It really seemed like a very civil, well organized protest,” said Nancy McClaren, a library patron who witnessed the incident. “Then all of sudden the police arrived in their riot gear and started shooting gas canisters at the little kids.”
No arrests were made in conjunction with the protest, though police said they were still reviewing the situation.
The protest was organized by student leaders in response by the proposal by the township’s Board of Education (BOE) to eliminate French language classes for students in Kindergarten through second grade.
The BOE said the cuts were necessary to help trim more than $1.2 million from the school’s budget due to loss of state aid. The student protesters said the loss of French class would diminish the value of their education.
Prior to the intervention by police, the students had formed a human barricade in front of the school’s main entrance and repeatedly shouted the slogan “Liberté, égalité, down with Haney.”
One of the students involved in the protest said the group was intent on carrying out a peaceful protest.
“I mean, some of the younger kindergartners still wear diapers,” he said, requesting anonymity. “So I am not sure how violent we could have become even if we tried.”
Nonetheless, Ed Kahler, Cranbury’s police chief, said his department takes all threats seriously.
“Despite what these protesters will tell you, this could have easily escalated into a mass-casualty situation,” he said. “We realize that not everyone may be happy with this department’s all-guns-a-blazing approach, but c’est la vie. We’re here to save lives.”
A spokesperson from the BOE said the board did not plan to alter its plans to eliminate the French classes despite the incident.
Photo: Cranbury police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disburse a crowd of protesting elementary schoolers outside the Cranbury School today
