Latest news with #GUJPS
The Herald Scotland
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Glasgow University Palestine protestors must be dealt with
As someone who has spent the past three years studying History at the University of Glasgow, I believe that in almost every instance, it has been peaceful campaigning that has fostered real societal change, rather than any violent counterpart. In recent months, Glasgow University Justice for Palestine Society (GUJPS) have increased the volume and severity of their direct action campaign against the university over continued investment in arms companies. Multiple buildings have been occupied and vandalised, University Avenue has been blocked to vehicles, and students and staff have been intimidated by masked youths over dissenting opinions. GUJPS were predictably unhappy about Home Secretary Yvette Cooper's proposed proscription of Palestine Action. A Glasgow student was briefly banned from campus after spraypainting a building. (Image: Youth Demand) They took to Instagram to write: 'The student movement and Palestine Action are two fronts of one struggle for liberation. As the student movement for Palestine, we will continue to organise to make it untenable for our universities to maintain their ties with zionism.' Perhaps it comes from a cynical place, but the proscription of Palestine Action can only be a good thing, not only for nationwide security, but for the safety of university students. I have been involved in student journalism for the past two years. Much of this time has been spent reporting on protests against the University's ongoing investment in the arms trade. Earlier groups of protestors, whilst clearly angry, would use banners and leaflets and organise marches in order to gain the University's attention. Their faces remained visible and they would happily communicate with student media, and perhaps slightly less happily, with University Management. As far as I'm aware, they remained within the law and the Code of Student Conduct. It is no mystery why the scale and severity of these protests has increased. It is understandable that these campaigners, and their successors, are frustrated that the University has maintained their ties to the arms trade, in clear opposition to the wishes of the vast majority of the student body. However, it is frankly unforgivable these protests have been met with undeniable apathy from both the University and Police Scotland. Despite the major increase in the severity of protests, which are often blatantly illegal and put students and members of the public in harm's way, the University and police have taken little to no action. In the previous academic year, two students were banned from campus, one being allowed to return following a small fine. The University took no further action against scores of students violating their campus. Furthermore, Police Scotland only reprimanded one student, despite the barrage of illegal activity. Ex-MP Michael Gove was heckled at an event last year. (Image: PA) It is miraculous that no one has been seriously injured during the escalation of recent months. One protest which, to me, demonstrates the danger of indifference from authorities, was outside an event where Michael Gove and Humza Yousaf were discussing life after politics. Protestors booed at anyone entering the building, shouting they 'had blood on their hands.' Of course they were well within their rights to protest Michael Gove's presence on campus. However, police and University security made no effort to ensure that those who wished to attend the event safely could also access their right to do so. Gove himself was escorted out of a back door by police and security, for his own safety. At the time, I was flabbergasted that no one was pushed or otherwise injured. Although I am in no way comparing the actions, both legal and illegal, of GUJPS to acts of terrorism, it is important to note that the more these activists are allowed to get away with, the scope for destruction increases. Read more: Palestine Action group backed by Glasgow University student protestors Palestine activists target Glasgow University in spraypaint protest Palestine activists target Glasgow factory over products used by Israeli army It is with the same logic that I hope the proposed proscription of Palestine Action will encourage the University of Glasgow and Police Scotland to take the escalation of illegal protests seriously. The University should reprimand students breaking the Code of Conduct and the law, in order to maintain safety and freedom of speech rights for all on campus. The police must discipline those who continuously break the law, as the voting aged adults they are, rather than screeching children. Student protesting must change, to create change, whilst maintaining public safety. Katherine McKay is Editor-in-Chief of the Hillhead Review, The Herald's Student Newsbrand of the Year.
The Herald Scotland
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Glasgow students back Palestine Action in Instagram post
Glasgow University's Justice for Palestine Society (GUJPS), who have long protested the institution's investments in arms companies, expressed support for Palestine Action in an online statement on Sunday, alongside groups at universities in London, Cambridge, and Liverpool. The statement, which was posted to Instagram, read: 'From our campus to our streets, we, the students, unequivocally stand side by side with Palestine Action against the government's shameful threats of proscription. 'This is an unprecedented escalation by the state against our entire movement. We stand united in our resistance to state against our entire movement. "We stand united in our resistance to state repression, and we reassert our commitment to enforcing a people's arms embargo by materially disrupting the flow of arms to the zionist entity and striking at imperialism from within institutions. 'The student movement and Palestine Action are two fronts of one struggle for liberation. As the student movement for Palestine, we will continue to organise to make it untenable for our universities to maintain their ties with zionism.' Supporters of the group rallied in London on Monday. Members of GUJPS have previously occupied university buildings, blocked campus thoroughfares, and participated in a week-long encampment several months ago The group sparked controversy in March when it called for the 'banning of all Zionists from campus.' Jewish student Anat Kraskin wrote in The Herald: 'Over the past year, Jewish students have been subjected to constant hostility, including protests, aggressive rhetoric, and attempts to delegitimize Jewish identity under the pretense of anti-Zionism.' In response, a GUJPS spokesperson said the call to ban Zionists was 'in direct response to the repeated invitation of prominent pro-Israeli speakers" as well as companies "which facilitate and profit off of Israel's genocide.' Palestine Action faces being proscribed as a terrorist organisation after several activists broke into RAF Brize Norton and damaged two military planes, the latest in a series of high-profile incidents. In March, the group was accused of vandalising US President Donald Trump's Turnberry golf club, after red paint was daubed on the venue's clubhouse and the words 'Gaza is not 4 sale' was spray painted on one of the resort's greens. Donald Trump's Turnberry golf course was vandalised. (Image: PA) Palestine Action activists also occupied the Thales weapons factory in Govan on 1 June 2022, setting off flares and causing more than £1m in damage. Five demonstrators were sentenced to 12-14 months in prison last August. Read more: 'We're being silenced': pro-Palestine student activists fear for freedom of speech Police Scotland tactics branded "oppressive" by pro-Palestine campaigners Breakfast at the camp: My morning with the Glasgow Uni student protestors In a statement, a University of Glasgow spokesperson said: 'The University of Glasgow upholds the right to freedom of expression, including the right of staff and students. to engage in peaceful demonstrations. However, we do not tolerate criminal activities or those which interfere with the rights of others to go about their business in peace. 'As an institution we stand against hate or harassment of any kind. We regularly communicate with all our staff and students about the need for tolerance towards each other, and we reiterate this call for all members of our community to be respectful to each other at all times.'
Glasgow Times
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow University students block West End road amid protest
The protest, which began at around 11am, was in response to a University Court meeting scheduled for the same day at 1.45pm. The students, alongside supporters from the Gaza Genocide Emergency Committee (GGEC), Glasgow University Celtic Supporters Club (GUCSC), and other pro-Palestinian organisations, are part of the Boycott, Divest, Sanction (BDS) campaign. READ MORE: Manhunt launched after man stabbed in 'targeted' midday attack The protestors called on the court members to vote for unconditional divestment from arms companies, which make more than 10% of their earnings from arms sales. This demand followed the release of the court agenda on April 16, 2025, which made no mention of a vote on divestment, only a revision of the Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) policy. The SRI policy does not include the requirement to divest from arms companies. The roadblock is the latest in a series of actions on the university campus by GUJPS. In March, the group increased their presence on campus through continued direct action. Students took part in a 10-day hunger strike, established an encampment on Library Hill, and last month, more than 100 students blocked University Avenue. READ MORE: Scottish TikTok in uproar after baby named this common Scots insult GUJPS argue that the university's investments in arms companies make it complicit in war crimes and the genocide in Palestine. The group are also protesting the university's increased crackdown on student activism, as one of their members, Neve Mclean, faces a ban from the university campus. This is the second Glasgow University student to face these disciplinary measures for their involvement in student activism this year, following the ban of Hannah Taylor, which was recently revoked. Dr Ghassan Abu Sittah, Rector of Glasgow University, recently commented on the use of 'authoritarian' measures from the University management following the ban placed on youth demand activist Hannah Taylor. In January 2024, a Demilitarise Education FOI request showed that there were 23 active grants totalling at least £60,343,849 at the University of Glasgow, which were in partnership with—or in a few cases, directly funded by—10 defence companies. These grants covered research grants, studentships, and research centres, and were held across four schools at the University of Glasgow, including Engineering and Physics and Astronomy. READ MORE: Do you know him? CCTV image released following assault at Old Firm According to Glasgow University's Student Representative Council (SRC), they held an indicative referendum last month. The motion was: "Should the University of Glasgow stop investing in companies that earn more than 10% of their revenue from the arms and defence industry?" The motion passed with 83.9% of votes in favour. An open letter was published by the SRC in the days following the vote, but there has been no response from university management.
The National
23-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
Scottish university students block road in Gaza protest
Around 50 Glasgow University students blocked University Avenue on Wednesday afternoon, as they called on the university to divest from Israeli arms companies. The protest is part of an ongoing student campaign co-ordinated by the Glasgow University Justice for Palestine Society (GUJPS), a student activist group. The society claims the university's £6.8 million of investments in arms companies such as BAE Systems make it complicit in war crimes, including the genocide in Palestine where Glasgow University alumnus Dima Alhaj and her six-month-old baby were killed. Police could be seen attending as students sat on the road, while public transport operator First Bus staff were also in attendance to review diversions. On the group's Instagram page, it stated: "Today, the University Court meets once again with no intention of voting for divestment and ending our collective complicity in the genocide of the Palestinians. We meet their inaction with direct action. "We demand they vote for immediate and unconditional divestment TODAY." Police Scotland and the University of Glasgow have been contacted for comment.
