Birmingham University threatens pro-Palestine college students with arrest
- Protesters pitching tents have been told to end their ‘trespass’ immediately
- Pro-Palestine camps have been set up at 20 universities across the UK
Birmingham has become the first British university to threaten students with arrest or legal action if they do not shut down their American-style, anti-Israel encampment.
The university’s director of legal services has accused those taking part in the protests of trespass and demanded they leave immediately.
The letter written by Dr Nicola Cardenos Blanco was handed to students on Friday, less than 24 hours after the ‘solidarity’ demo was set up at the university’s main campus in Edgbaston.
So far, 20 pro-Palestine camps have been set up at some of Britain’s most prestigious universities including Oxford and Cambridge – with Birmingham’s the most recent.
The new letter comes after Birmingham’s Vice Chancellor Prof Adam Tickell cancelled a meeting with pro-Palestine protesters scheduled for this Tuesday and said he would be unwilling to talk with them until the camp had been dismantled.
Pro-Palestinian ‘solidarity camps’ have been set up at universities across the UK, including this one at Cambridge
Tents have also been pitched here outside Oxford University’s Museum of Natural History
Dr Blanco’s message to students states: ‘The University of Birmingham confirms that it does not give permission for you to protest at The Green Heart or any other part of Edgbaston Campus (the premises) which is private land.
‘Your occupation at the Premises is a trespass. The University requires you to leave the premises immediately.
‘Failure to do so will result in the University taking legal action and/or reporting your trespass to law enforcement officers without further notice.’
In a separate email sent round to staff, Prof Tickell said: ‘You may be aware that a small group of tents has been set up on the Green Heart by individuals protesting in support for Palestine.
‘I’ve written before about how we will support students and staff who wish to take part in protests about issues that they care deeply about.
‘However this does not extend to setting up tents on University property where there is no authority or permission to do so.
‘Unfortunately [I] have had to inform students [I] will not meet with them while the camp is in place.’
Student activists at universities across the country have vowed to sleep in tents on private university property until authorities agree to their long list of demands, which includes condemning ‘genocide’ in Gaza and pledging scholarships to Palestinians.
The University of Birmingham has issued this letter to student protesters, telling them they face potential legal action or arrest unless they end their ‘trespass’ of university land
The letter was sent just 24 hours after the encampment was set up at Birmingham University’s main Edgbaston campus (pictured)
They have been inspired and supported by their American counterparts where more than 1,000 students have been arrested by riot police.
Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt, speaking in Parliament earlier this month, warned protesters should be met with ‘an extremely strict response’ if they tried to replicate what she called the ‘disgusting’ scenes happening in the US.
Organisers here have insisted the protests will remain peaceful as they spread to even more universities over the coming days and weeks.
Jewish and Israeli students have repeatedly stressed that they feel ‘threatened’ and ‘terrified’ by the encampments, which they claim are pro-war and pro-violence.
They claim that calls for ‘Intifada’ which translates to uprising and chants like ‘From the river to the sea’ are implicitly violent and call for the deaths of Jews and the destruction of Israel.
That slogan is a reference to the land between the River Jordan, which borders eastern Israel, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west.
A dossier obtained by the Mail lists a number of other problematic incidents at different encampments including a 19-year-old Jewish student who was violently shoved in Cambridge and a woman in Leeds who accused Jewish students of liking ‘dead babies’.
Many university leaders in Britain have decided not to take any action against the protesters despite pressure from Rishi Sunak, who warned that Vice Chancellors have a ‘moral duty’ to protect Jewish students.
Some 20 tents have been pitched outside Newcastle University’s Student Union
The pro-Palestine protest at Newcastle is one of a growing number on campuses across the UK
Students have also been manning stalls and camping out at Leeds University
A pro-Palestine demo has been set up by Bristol University students in Royal Fort Gardens
Dave, a Jewish final year Natural Sciences student at the University of Birmingham, said: ‘The encampment outside the library serves as a loud, distracting and intimidating reminder of the fear many Jews have for our friends and family in the region.
‘They are not influencing university policy – they’re disturbing many students who just want to pass their exams.’
In a statement, the University of Birmingham said: ‘A small group of tents has been set up on campus by individuals protesting in support of Palestine.
‘The university is operating as normal with exams and other activity continuing as planned.
‘The University of Birmingham recognises that students will wish to take part in protests about issues that they care deeply about.
‘There are many ways in which this can be done lawfully, and the profile of a cause raised.’
The university said its Freedom Of Speech Code Of Practices sets out how it supports authorised demos – but insisted this did ‘not include setting up tents on university property where there is no permission or authority to do so’.
Birmingham said it was ‘monitoring the situation to ensure safety and minimise disruption, including to students who are currently studying for and taking exams’ – and urged protesters to ‘also respect this’.
The Newcastle tents are surrounded by Palestinian flags and photos of dead children
Manchester students have gathered with Palestinian flags as well as holding up placards
An aerial view of the pro-Palestine solidarity camp at Manchester University earlier this month
Handpainted signs at Leeds University bore slogans such as ‘Stop genocide. End apartheid. Free Palestine’ as well as ‘Welcome to the occupation. Free Palestine’.
Other messages seen in Leeds included ‘Black Lives Matter’ and ‘Freedom for Palestine’
The statement added: ‘Our university community includes staff, students and visitors from a wide range of backgrounds and beliefs.
‘Everyone has the right to go about their business safely and free from intimidation or harassment and we will not tolerate any form of discrimination or racism, including antisemitism and Islamophobia.
‘We maintain regular discussions with a range of student and staff representatives to listen to their views and ensure that they feel supported.
‘We have a wide range of support available to students and staff.’
