Students in the UK are joining the university protest movement by holding pro-Palestinian demonstrations in two cities. At University College London (UCL), students gathered outside the main campus to protest the school's ties to Israeli academic institutions. The protest, organized by UCL Action For Palestine, aimed to raise awareness about the university's research partnerships with arms companies that supply the Israeli military.
Meanwhile, at the University of Warwick, students from the group 'Warwick Stands With Palestine' organized a demonstration in the school's piazza. The university acknowledged the ongoing protest and emphasized the importance of freedom of speech on campus.
Amna Ghaffar, a spokesperson for UCL Action For Palestine, highlighted the differences in how UK and US universities handle protests. Ghaffar criticized UCL's partnership with Tel Aviv University, claiming it has close ties to the Israeli military. The group's efforts are part of a global movement, with solidarity demonstrations taking place in cities like Columbia, NYC, Paris, and Sydney.
Notably, the 'Warwick Stands With Palestine' group set up a tent encampment in the university courtyard to 'reclaim our campus for Gaza' after their demands were not met. The protests reflect a growing international concern over the situation in Palestine and the role of academic institutions in supporting or being complicit in such conflicts.
