Student walkout in Cardiff. Photo: Jamal Elaheebocus
On Wednesday’s day of action, students and staff held their university and politicians to account for their failure to support a ceasefire in Palestine, reports Jamal Elaheebocus
Around 200 students, staff and trade unionists gathered outside Cardiff University on Wednesday as part of Stop the War’s workplace day of action for Palestine. The protest, organised by Black Lives Matter Cardiff, Stand Up for Palestine and Cardiff Stop the War, gathered outside the Centre for Student Life, where protesters heard from students from Cardiff University and the University of South Wales, as well as university staff, trade unionists and campaigners from PSC, Stop the War Cymru and other groups.
There were members of UCU, Unite and Unison all present on the demonstration with union flags and banners. After the speeches, protesters marched along Park Place, chanting ‘Ceasefire now’, ‘Cardiff University shame on you’ and ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’. Cardiff University’s response to the ongoing genocide in Gaza has sparked anger amongst students and staff; the university has refused to back calls for a ceasefire and offered minimal support to Palestinian students and other students affected by the violence. This is in stark contrast to the university’s condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and more substantial support offered to those affected by that conflict.
Demonstrators spoke of the importance of continuing and strengthening boycott campaigns against complicit companies, such as Barclays, Starbucks and McDonald’s, as well as the need for a total academic boycott of apartheid Israel, as was carried out against apartheid South Africa. Protestors were also reminded of the failure of Cardiff Labour MPs, such as Jo Stevens, to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and the failure of Mark Drakeford and his potential successors as Welsh First Minister to back calls for a ceasefire, despite the Senedd voting in favour of a ceasefire. Campaigners will travel to Swansea this Saturday for a Wales-wide protest against the Gaza genocide.
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