Hundreds attend ‘Palestine solidarity protest’ on campus

Hundreds of students staged a ‘Palestine solidarity protest’ against the University of Warwick’s alleged role in the global arms trade.

The protest was organised by Warwick Anti-Sexism Society, Warwick Friends of Palestine, and Warwick Anti-Racism Society.

The protest was part of a national wave of protests in support of Palestine following 11 days of cross-border bombardments between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza strip.

Several students were waving Palestinian flags, while many others bought homemade placards. The placards displayed messages such as “Warwick has blood on its hands” and “Israel is a terrorist state”.

Pamphlets by the Socialist Party and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign were also distributed amongst the crowd.

After assembling in the Piazza, Warwick Students’ Union (SU) Environment and Ethics Officers Eseosa Akojie and Kimia Talebi addressed the crowd outside the SU building.

The SU is not only complicit in the Israeli apartheid, they have a role in it

– Kimia Talebi

 

The officers spoke of the internal difficulties in getting the ‘Divest from all unethical industries’ motion adopted after it was passed at the Autumn 2020 All Student Vote (ASV). A legal challenge was submitted against adopting the motion, and Eseosa spoke of hostile working conditions during the officers’ fight against legal challenge.

The more wide ranging Boycott, Divest and Sanctions failed to pass at the same ASV. Kimia attributed the failure of the BDS motion to “dedicated misinformation campaigns”.

Eseosa further accused the SU of being “institutionally racist” and that it has “completely disregarded Palestinian voices”.

Kimia said: “The SU is not only complicit in the Israeli apartheid, they have a role in it.

“We don’t need a racist SU that cares more about its image, about performance, about money, about its bureaucracy than its black, brown, and Palestinian students.”

Students wrote political slogans on University Buildings, such as “neutrality in the face of genocide is compliance”. Image: The Boar News / Oliver Toms

Students held banners with political slogans, such as “Warwick is complicit in apartheid”. Image: The Boar News / Oliver Toms

The protest marched around campus to visit sites of alleged weapons investment, including the Chemistry Department and the Warwick Manufacturing Group.

Some students wrote political slogans on campus property such as “You have Palestinian blood on your hands”, “Warwick funds genocide”, and “Neutrality in the face of genocide is compliance”.

The protest also chanted slogans such as “Free free Palestine”, “Israel is a terrorist state”, and “in our millions and our billions we are all Palestinians”.

University of Warwick commented on the protest: “We have no such direct investments and we have engaged with our students and staff to revise and keep under review our own ‘Socially Responsible Policy’. The University will also continue to facilitate peaceful protest.”

Warwick SU, Warwick Friends of Palestine, University of Warwick Anti-Racism Society, and University of Warwick Anti-Sexism Society have been contacted for comment.