University of Sheffield granted legal order in court battle with student protest camp

Sheffield County Court today granted an injunction against the University of Sheffield requiring the student protest camp to go ahead

The University of Sheffield has been granted a possession order ordering a protest camp outside the Students’ Union building to leave after 87 days.

The order was granted following a six-hour hearing in Sheffield today.

In his ruling, Mr Justice Baddley said he had to grant the order given that no defense had been put forward.

The case was brought by the university’s lawyers, CMS, against “persons unknown”.

Organizers of the protest say they have declined to defend themselves in court because of their concerns about disciplinary action that could be brought against them if people are named as defendants.

In an email sent to students following the hearing, the University of Sheffield’s chief operating officer, Robert Sykes, explained the university’s decision to take legal action: “Earlier this month, the University submitted to the courts a possession order on ground of violation legally requires the protesters to leave. Our request was considered and granted in court today (Friday 26 July), meaning the protesters will be legally required to leave the site.

Please be assured that this action was not taken lightly. Despite numerous attempts to allow a peaceful protest, we must take steps to ensure the safety and well-being of our students, staff and visitors and to ensure that there are no further risks to the University’s business.”

Earlier this week, protesters at the camp refused to tell The Sheffield Tab whether they would try to stay put if the injunction is granted.

In an Instagram story posted this evening after the ruling, organizers said: “As the university plots to shut down this protest for invoking complicity in the deaths of our brothers in Gaza, let us pray. Pray for the lives lost, but also for the living.”

Yesterday, protest organizers posted on social media asking people to join them at a rally in the camp tomorrow, saying: “Join us in recognizing the steadfastness of the Palestinians who are guiding us to become Britain’s longest-running camp.”

via @palestine.sccp posted yesterday calling for a rally at the camp tomorrow afternoon

A second-year student at the camp said: “The university is still complicit, so we’re not going to avoid dealing with it.

We still plan to protest.”

The camp outside the Students’ Union building is one of the few left in the UK as a succession of university protest camps have dispersed following similar legal rulings.

In recent weeks, camps in Nottingham, Bristol and a number of other universities have closed after facing possession orders.

Dr Liza Stampnitzky, a lecturer in politics at the university, said: “This is a move to end the slaughter, specifically calling on our university and other camps, asking other universities to end their complicity in Israeli occupation and slaughter from Gaza. This movement will continue.”

The number of protesters outside the Student Union building has fluctuated this summer, but protesters say they have kept at least four people encamped at all times to ensure their presence persists.

They were helped to maintain their presence by non-student protest organizations in Sheffield.

Protesters from the cycling protest organization Big Ride for Palestine and members of the Sheffield branch of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign have been present at the camp since it began.

Big Ride for Palestine protesters at the camp during a demonstration for Nakba Day on May 15

In a press release, the Sheffield Campus Coalition for Palestine said: “At a court hearing on Friday 26 July, Judge Baddley ruled in favor of the University of Sheffield’s Possession Order ordering the eviction of the Sheffield Campus Coalition for Palestine ( SCCP) camp.

Despite the peaceful protest and support gained in the camp, the decision means members must leave the premises or face potentially violent eviction by bailiffs. Although disheartened by the outcome, camp members remain steadfast in their commitment to raising awareness and campaigning for the liberation of Palestinians.”

The lengthy press release also questioned the validity of property rights as a legitimate basis for the court’s ruling and blamed “Western imperialist monopolies” for the decision.

Since 7 October, there has been a significant increase in protests related to the Middle East conflict in the UK, and although this has been associated with reports of intimidation during the general election, there have been no reports or concrete evidence of intimidation or anti-Semitism. regarding Sheffield’s protest camp.

The percentage of Israeli military imports that come from UK companies is, however, small. According to the BBC, the value of British arms exports to Israel amounted to just £42m in 2022, far less than the US, Germany and even Italy, which account for just 0.9% of Israel’s arms purchases on the international market .

A University of Sheffield spokesman said: “The camp has been outside the Students’ Union building since May 1 and raises a number of health and safety concerns, as well as causing ongoing disruption to university activities and our community. As a result, we sought to obtain a possession order. This was granted today and requires the protesters to end the camp.”