Wave of pro-Palestinian demonstrations take place at universities across the country

Camps and demonstrations can be seen set up on UK university campuses in Edinburgh, Warwick, Manchester and Sheffield, all in protest of the Israel-Gaza war.

On May 1, students from the University of Sheffield could be seen setting up camp outside the Students’ Union. The Sheffield Campus Coalition for Palestine (SCCP) has been demonstrating there for over a week.

One student spoke to ShefNews but asked to remain anonymous for fear of being threatened with disciplinary action from the University.

“We have various points of contact with all other universities. Currently, there is not one big network, but people are connected with activists across the country.

“We all believe that the university should not be supplying weapons to genocidal states, and we want transparency and accountability from them.”

In their mission statement, the group states that they want to “dismantle the University’s institutional complicity in Israel’s occupation and ethnic cleansing of Palestine.”

They also say they want to “provide material and political support to Palestinian students and all those who engage in political activism on campus.”

Finally, it mentions a desire to strengthen the ‘campus’ awareness of and commitment to Palestinian solidarity through historical, political and cultural education’.

On Wednesday, protesters disrupted the university’s education awards ceremony by storming the stage. Demonstrators chanted “Free Palestine” and “University of Sheffield, blood on your hands”.

The same day, in an email to students, the University acknowledged the “strong community input” about the situation in Gaza and “supports the rights of our students to express their views peacefully.”

In addition, the Students’ Union highlighted the availability of facilities and staff to support the welfare of demonstrators during the campaign outside the Students’ Union.

They also encouraged the wider student body to get involved in student actions, but to have “respectful discussions on the issue”.

A petition has been set up by University alumni encouraging support for the SCCP cause. It also supports the group’s open letter to university leaders.

Solidarity with Palestine – Student Encamp at Sheffield Universities – Action Network