This event took place on Thurs 19 October, 7pm
The brutal bombardment of the civilian population of Gaza by Israeli forces and the forced removal of over 1 million Palestinians from their homes has brought hundreds of thousands onto the streets in protest. Yet students and academics who have spoken up on social media and at demonstrations have been targeted by hostile media campaigns. University managements have banned or restricted meetings against Israeli apartheid and occupation on campus. And government ministers and the police have created a climate of fear by threatening to criminalise using the Palestinian flag and pro-Palestinian slogans.
- How can we, as university and college workers, trade union activists and students work effectively to defend pro-Palestinian voices and organisers?
- How can we ensure that our universities and colleges stand up to government pressure and support critical teaching and research on the roots of the conflict which examines the history of settler colonialism, apartheid and occupation?
- What should campus trade unions do to protect the right to protest, boycott and organise in solidarity with Palestine?
Hosted by BRISMES Campaigns, BRICUP and MENA Solidarity Network.
Chair:
- Sean Wallis (UCU London Region)
Speakers included:
- Rhiannon Lockley (National Executive Committee UCU and chair of UCU’s national Equality committee)
- David Renton (Head of Employment Law Team, Garden Court Chambers who has fought a number of free speech cases in the employment courts)
- Gabriel Frankel (European Legal Support Centre)
- Tom Hickey (BRICUPhttps://youtu.be/gjfJjw5p67E)
Resources
- Download David Renton’s briefing note on his talk here [Protecting individuals accused of misconduct around Israel/Palestine]
- Briefing document prepared by ELSC, BRISMES Campaigns and London Region UCU reps [Defending your advocacy on Palestine in the Higher Education context]
BRISMES Campaigns 