Protestors return to Queen’s Lawn

Students and staff called for an immediate ceasefire and an end to Imperial College’s ties with arms companies in a protest at lunchtime on Thursday 28th November. More than 40 students and staff were present, holding Palestinian flags and banners calling for students to join the “intifada” now.

The word “intifada”, translating roughly to uprising, is controversial, with some arguing that it has connotations of several violent uprisings in the Israel–Palestine conflict in the 1980s and 2000s, where civilians on both sides of the conflict were targeted by bombings and violence.

Speakers at the protest called on Imperial to divest from arms companies, as well as condemning Prime Minister Kier Starmer’s inaction towards the IsraelHamas war. Protestors chanted “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, and “blood money on your hands, show us your divestment plans”.

Protestors also spoke on the lack of materialisation of a proposed investment forum between the College, the Union, and students, which was due to be held in early November, but cancelled after complaints that not enough notice was given. One speaker said: “We were told it would happen on the 11th, 13th, or the 18th of November. Today is the 28th and there is still nothing.” So far, no updates on the situation have been announced, although a source close to the matter told Felix that preparations are being made to host the forum in the near future.

Protestors also lauded the recent news that sportswear brand Puma had dropped its sponsorship of the Israeli Football Association. Speakers endorsed the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanction (BDS) movement, calling for those present to boycott McDonalds in particular.

Students witnessing the protest had mixed reactions. One student who wished to remain anonymous told Felix that they believed the protests “are largely inappropriate”, and that “freedom of expression should not infringe on Imperial students right to a peaceful learning environment.”

Another student told Felix that they thought “the protests are brilliant. I think they’re a really, really useful way to communicate to the college that we don’t support” ties with arms companies.

Some questioned the efficacy of the protests– one student said “I think the real question is we need to understand how much pressure it’s going to put on Imperial management,” adding that “there is quite a good amount of security here, so the protestors have [had] an effect on somebody, but wasn’t sure if “more needs to be done for the protestors to reach their goal.”

National Week of Action

The protest is part of both a “Workplace Day of Action” and a “National Week of Action” organised by the activist group Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), to coincide with the UN–organised International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

A spokesperson for Imperial Action for Palestine, one of the main groups protesting the conflict on campus, said that “Friday 29th November is the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. The week has been designated a national week of action by the Palestine solidarity campaign. We are joining activists around the world in taking action this week to draw attention to Israel’s genocide, its system of occupation, oppression and apartheid.”

As part of the week, activist groups at Imperial have organised teach–ins and banner making for protests outside of Imperial’s campuses. When asked by Felix if the activists were shifting focus and tactics, relative to last year’s protests and encampment, a spokesperson for Action for Palestine said: “We have always conducted a combination of teach-ins and rallies. Education is a vital part of any social justice movement. When people are informed, they take appropriate stances.”

The Trade Union Congress (TUC), and University and College Union (UCU) have endorsed the campaign. A statement on the UCU’s national website says: “We encourage UCU members and branches to use the next national workplace day of action for Palestine on Thursday 28 November” to “raise awareness” on the Israeli military’s action in Palestine focusing on the destruction of universities.

Earlier in May, Imperial’s UCU branch passed a motion that called for the UCU to “support marches, protests, workplace days of action and other events called by Stop The War Coalition (STWC) and PSC by actively publicising them among our members.” As part of the solidarity campaign, some members of the UCU participated in leafleting, as part of a larger coalition with other activist groups present at Imperial.

On 7th October, Hamas launched attacks on Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking a further 252 hostages. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, 45,708 Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing war. Earlier this month, the International Criminal Court charged Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant, as well as the head of Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif, for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Both Israel and Hamas have rejected the allegations.