This provided passers by with a powerful statement, as protestors championed banners and Keffiyehs as modes of resistance, visible to all walking around the demonstration, several of whom stopped to join the proceedings themselves.
Chants of “Viva Palestina!” were to be heard in between speeches from various, exasperated figures, detailing their discontent with the university, particularly in their lack of welfare support to students affected by the events unfolding in Palestine.
discontent with the university, particularly in their lack of welfare support to students affected by the events unfolding in Palestine.
The comparison was drawn to the extensive support advertised to students affected by events in Ukraine, and protestors asserted that while they were happy that Ukrainian students had this offered to them, Palestinian students were given insufficient support in comparison. Frustration over the university’s connections with Leonardo, a company providing arms to the Israeli government, was also voiced.
When asked for the reason behind this protest, Lewi El-Hawary, President of NUSU’s Amnesty society, said: “This is more about the specific support, or lack of, and the treatment of students on campus that are displaying antigenocidal rhetoric. The university is not offering support to those affected by Palestine...so many anti-Zionists are being ostracized right now, and yet the support is minimal.”
“The university is fearmongering students and are inhibiting their freedom to assemble on campus, meanwhile we keep trying to get motions passed by the Students’ Union, but they keep getting shut down and blocked...students are fed up.”
One activist present told us that: “These speeches reflect the frustration that the university won’t listen to our demands. The increased security and police presence on campus is concerning and reflects a hostility towards the campaign. It seems that they would rather police our right to protest than join in the fight”
"motions... keep getting shut down and blocked...students are fed up.”
Lewi El-Hawary
In response to the conflict, Newcastle University’s press office released a statement by the Vice-Chancellor, President and NUSU Sabbatical Officer team back in November 2023.
The statement reads “There is no place in our community for hate (and) no place for racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, abuse, incitement or harassment of any kind.” The statement also suggested that students and staff can gain support through services such as the Student Health and Wellbeing service, as well as the University chaplaincy team.
