Latest news with #PalestinianCampaignfortheAcademicandCulturalBoycottofIsrael
The National
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Police Scotland accused of 'injuring 63-year-old Palestine activist'
Lindsey Murray was arrested on June 24 amid a protest against complicity with Israeli war crimes at the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) in Glasgow. The Gaza Genocide Emergency Committee (GGEC) later claimed she had been 'brought unnecessarily to the ground' and 'sustained debilitating injuries' that required hospital treatment. Activists had organised a week-long series of events in the CCA's public space to demonstrate against the board's refusal to adopt a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) policy or endorse the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI). READ MORE: BBC host takes issue with legal expert labelling Israel's plans 'concentration camps' However, it was shut down on the first day, with police called to remove demonstrators from the building. A Police Scotland spokesperson said at the time: 'Around 12.55pm on Tuesday, 24 June, 2025, we received a report of a disturbance involving a large group on Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. 'One woman, aged 63, has been arrested in connection.' The GGEC claimed that Murray had been subject to a 'brutal arrest and hospitalisation by Police Scotland officers'. A statement from the group alleged that 'despite being seriously injured, unable to walk, and pleading for medical help', she was placed into a police van before being taken to a station. READ MORE: Scots Language Centre plunged into crisis as board resigns over payments row It said that she had been 'deemed unable to walk by medics' and taken to hospital, where she remained for two weeks. Video of the incident on social media shows Murray laying handcuffed, half-in a police van, as she says she cannot get further in. A Police Scotland spokesperson did not address the allegations in the statement. They said only: "A complaint has been received and is being assessed." The Scottish Ambulance Service said it had no record of being involved in treating a person in those circumstances on that date.
The Herald Scotland
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
War of words grows over pro-Palestine protest at arts centre
The Art Workers for Palestine Group has stepped up pressure for senior figures to be 'removed' amid claims that participants in a sit-in protest were 'kettled, brutalised and oppressed.' Read more: The CCA, which has been targeted over a refusal to publicly support a boycott of Israeli academic and cultural institutions, has expressed 'regret' over the impact of last week's protest. However it has claimed it was forced to call in 'law enforcement' in response to a 'forced entry' of its building. The CCA in Glasgow city centre has been running since 1992. Social media posts by the campaign group on the morning of June 24 had urged supporters to 'mobilise' and 'enter the building' at 12 noon after the group was refused permission to stage a programme of their own events in a 'liberated zone.' The CCA has claimed the group demanded that the venue agreed in advance that the police would not be called 'under any circumstances,' and was refused permission due to the venue's 'safeguarding responsibilities.' The centre, which insisted the planned events would have 'breached' the venue's licensing and insurance obligations, said it had been advised to close the building by the police and security staff. However the CCA has denied claims that it had 'colluded' with the police and 'pre-arranged' for officers to be in the area before the forced entry of the building. Last month the CCA said that its board had been "unable to reach a consensus" over whether to endorse the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, despite calls from more than 800 supporters of an online petition. At the time, the centre said it would be instigating a "transparent, values-based consultation with our staff and the broader CCA community to address the substantive issues." The AWFPS group announced plans for five days of events at the CCA, saying: 'It is up to us to reclaim our arts institutions that are heading in an increasingly disturbing direction.' On the morning of June 24, the group told supporters: 'We are shocked that the CCA are saying that they will not let art workers run our liberated zone programme or allow us to enter the building. 'We need as many people as possible to mobile at CCA at 12 noon to enter the building and reclaim the public courtyard so that the liberated zone can go ahead.' A new statement issued by the CCA said: 'The CCA Board was unable to reach a consensus on publicly endorsing the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) at its last board meeting. This is due to the potential legal complexities and implications for a charity to do so. 'To fulfil its charitable aim, the organisation must remain independent politically. CCA is responsible for maintaining and supporting employment in the arts, including funding programmes of artist development, and must therefore always consider its financial and legal sustainability very carefully. 'The CCA does not hold any investment in companies, Israeli or international, that are involved in the violation of Palestinian rights. We also do not have any partnerships with Israeli academic or cultural institutions. 'We review commercial and programming decisions on a case-by-case basis and recognise the need to develop a formal ethical framework to guide these decisions in future. 'On June 23 Art Workers for Palestine Scotland (AW4PS) announced a week-long programme of events to take place in the CCA's courtyard space. 'AW4PS included in their notification that CCA would agree not to contact the police or security personnel under any circumstances, which in light of our safeguarding responsibilities and legal duties, we were not able to host. 'There was no agreement reached, and security, legal, and insurance concerns remained unresolved. 'AWFPS had not entered into an agreement with the CCA to ensure that contracting, safeguarding, risk assessment, and access considerations were in place for a five-day event, involving a wide range of participants, including children, which was announced with only 24 hours' notice. 'CCA would have been in breach of its legal obligations regarding licensing and insurance if we had allowed the event to go ahead. 'On the morning of June 24, the CCA was closed to the public, with access for staff, cultural tenants and contract hires only. 'AWFPS made a post on social media saying that they needed 'as many people to mobilise at CCA at 12 noon to enter the building and reclaim the public courtyard.' 'At noon, groups gathered outside both entrances. Only after a group entered the building, the police were called. 'We regret the impact on all those involved inside and outside of the building. We can confirm that CCA has not called for any charges that have been pressed, nor have we had further contact with police regarding this matter.' The AWFPS group said it was 'deeply disturbed and appalled' at the CCA's latest statement, and stepped up its demand for the "removal" of interim director Steve Slater, chair Jean Cameron and board member Steve Slater. It said: 'Rather than taking accountability for their actions, the CCA's leadership continues to misrepresent events, discredit organisers and align itself with a growing culture of state repression that seeks to delegitimise protest and Palestinian solidarity. 'Most importantly, the CCA fails to apologise to the many people that were kettled, brutalised and oppressed last Thursday. 'The CCA's invocation of 'safeguarding to justify their actions rings hollow when their immediate response was to call the police, a move that is inherently unsafe for many of the very communities they claim to support. 'Framing police involvement as care is not safeguarding, it is harm. 'We are not outsiders. We are arts workers, artists who have exhibited at the CCA, community members, and people who one imagined the CCA as a platform for sharing radical, thoughtful and collective practice.' The CCA was opened in 1992 at the home of the former Third Eye Centre, which was founded in 1974. Writers, artists and performers who have shown work or performed there include Allen Ginsberg, Whoopi Goldberg, John Byrne, Billy Connolly, Edwin Morgan, Kathy Acker, Damien Hirst, Sophie Calleite, Nathan Coley, Jacqueline Donachie, Louise Hopkins, Carol Rhodes, Richard Wright, David Shrigley and Ross Sinclair. The venue has had a number of difficulties over the last decade, including being forced to close for several months due to the impact of the 2018 Glasgow School of Art fire, a long-running dispute over the pay and conditions of workers at its cafe-bar, and financial problems, which forced the venue to close temporarily in December. The venue finally reopened in April after securing a new £3.4 million Scottish Government funding deal for the next three years.
Glasgow Times
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow venue closes to 'prioritise safety' after protest
The Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) in Glasgow city centre announced it will be shut after a crowd attempted to stage a takeover on Tuesday. On social media, the spot announced: "In light of recent events and ongoing conversations involving the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA), we've made the decision to keep the building closed to the public for the remainder of this week. "This is not a decision we take lightly, but we recognise the need to pause. The temporary closure will allow us to prioritise the safety and well-being of our staff and partners, and to create space for reflection. "We understand the strength of feeling being expressed by our community, and we remain committed to engaging with this moment thoughtfully. "We will be sharing further updates in the coming days. Thank you for your support, and for your patience." Glasgow venue closes to 'prioritise safety' after protest (Image: Newsquest) READ NEXT: LIVE: Huge police presence in city centre as activists stage takeover Palestine protestors took over CCA in Glasgow city centre (Image: Newsquest) We reported at the time that a group of activists staged a sit-in. The action prompted a huge police response, with three police buses, four vans, and a patrol car deployed to the scene. Officers were observed both inside the CCA building and stationed outside on the street. According to the group, the demonstration was sparked by the CCA board's refusal to adopt a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) policy or to endorse the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI).
The Herald Scotland
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Arts centre to close temporarily after pro-Palestine protest
The Arts Workers For Palestine Scotland campaign had announced plans to "reclaim the CCA" for several days this week with a series of events in a "liberated zone" at the venue. Read more: The CCA, which has been targeted over a refusal to support a boycott of Israeli academic and cultural institutions, said it had been forced to close to the public due to "safety and security concerns" over the "intended occupation" of its courtyard. The CC added that the police had been called in to respond to a "forced entry" at the venue, which showcases a number of different art forms. However campaigners have accused the CCA of "colluding" with the police, and have demanded the resigning of its chair, Jean Cameron, and board member, Roddy Hunter. The Centre for Contemporary Arts has been running since 1992. A statement from the campaign group, which has suggested there was a "violent crackdown" against its protest plans, added: "We will not back down. We will reclaim our centre." The group had claimed that the CCA had refused to let run events in a "liberated zone" and had urged supporters to "mobilise" to enter the building and "reclaim" its courtyard space. A spokesperson for the CCA said: "In light of recent events and ongoing conversations involving the CCA, we've made the decision to keep the building closed to the public for the rest of this week. "This is not a decision we take lightly, but we recognise the need to pause. The temporary closure will allow us to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our staff and partners, and to create space for reflection. "We understand the strength of feeling being expressed by our community and we remain committed to engaging with this moment thoughtfully. "We will be sharing updates in the coming days. Thank you for your support and your patience." The CCA had earlier said that it wanted to acknowledge the activists who had gathered to "express their views" at the venue. It added: "We recognise the conviction, deep emotion, urgency and purpose behind their presence. "We also understand the significance of this moment. "This has been particularly challenging for our staff." Earlier this month the CCA said that its board had been "unable to reach a consensus" over whether to endorse the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel. At the time, the centre said it would be instigating a "transparent, values-based consultation with our staff and the broader CCA community to address the substantive issues." The CCA was opened in 1992 at the home of the former Third Eye Centre, which was founded in 1974. Writers, artists and performers who have shown work or performed there include Allen Ginsberg, Whoopi Goldberg, John Byrne, Billy Connolly, Edwin Morgan, Kathy Acker, Damien Hirst, Sophie Calleite, Nathan Coley, Jacqueline Donachie, Louise Hopkins, Carol Rhodes, Richard Wright, David Shrigley and Ross Sinclair. The venue has had a number of difficulties over the last decade, including being forced to close for several months due to the impact of the 2018 Glasgow School of Art fire, a long-running dispute over the pay and conditions of workers at its cafe-bar, and financial problems, which forced the venue to close temporarily in December. The venue finally reopened in April after securing a new £3.4 million Scottish Government funding deal for the next three years.
The National
30-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Glasgow Film Theatre board members quit after Israel boycott decision
On Thursday, The National told how Glasgow Film – the company which runs the GFT – said it would not fully endorse either the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement or the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI). Glasgow Film said this was in order to retain "independent decision making" and uphold its "commitment to Cinema For All". READ MORE: 'Do something!': Question Time audience member in fiery row with Labour MP on Israel Now, three members of the GFT board have resigned, raising concerns about the processes leading to the decision. Dr Sarah Wishart, one of the members who quit, claimed the board had not signed off on any letters or statements regarding the decision before they had been sent to staff and the media. On Thursday, Wishart shared a statement on social media, which the three members read out during a board meeting on Tuesday. It reads: "Unfortunately, due to the decision making and processes leading up to this evening, we have no choice but to resign from the board of Glasgow Film Theatre, effective immediately. "This is a decision which we undertook with great thought, care and consideration. "We recognised our responsibility as board members, and wished to see issues related to BDS/PACBI through to their conclusion. "However, we cannot, in good conscience, continue to serve on the board of the GFT. "In addition to our concerns related to governance and decision-making processes, we are also deeply concerned about the attitude the GFT has shown towards our unionised workers. READ MORE: Gaza ceasefire talks continue as Israel issues forced displacement orders "We intend to follow this statement with individual written resignations to formally conclude our time on the board." Earlier this year, front-of-house and cleaning staff at the GFT staged a boycott on handling any goods connected to the BDS movement, which resulted in Coca-Cola products no longer being served. Campaign group Art Workers for Palestine Scotland then published an open letter to the GFT calling for the cinema to adhere to the BDS movement and endorse PACBI. The letter was signed by more than 1400 people and included the likes of Ghassan Abu-Sittah, rector of the University of Glasgow and filmmaker Ken Loach. Glasgow Film has been contacted for comment.
