"NOTTINGHAM UNIVERSITY OCCUPATION TO DEMAND ACTION FOR THE PEOPLE OF GAZA
Last night, students at the University of Nottingham are occupied lecture theatre B62 of the Law and Social Sciences building on the University campus, to protest Israels' actions and demand urgent action from the University management. The occupation will not end until our demands are met by the University authorities.
Over the past four weeks, Israel has unleashed the might of its military against a defenseless population living in one of the most crowded places on earth. These attacks are ongoing and have now destroyed much of the infrastructure of Gaza and left thousands of civilians, including hundreds of children, dead.
The appalling Israeli attacks have cost the lives of over 1,300 Palestinians, injuring and maimed many thousands. Tens of thousands of civilians have been left homeless and displaced. Head of the UN Palestinian refugee agency in Gaza, John Ging, is now joining international calls for an investigation into the war crimes of recent action. Israel stands accused of using banned weapons such as phosphorus bombs, attacking medical facilities, including the killing of 12 ambulance men in marked vehicles, and killing large numbers of policemen who had no military role, amongst numerous other atrocious crimes.
Motivated by the escalating crisis in Gaza, University of Nottingham students have occupied space on campus and issued a set of demands to the University management calling for immediate action. We stand in solidarity with students at the School of Oriental and African Studies, the London School of Economics, King's College London, Birmingham, Essex Warwick, Sussex, Oxford, Manchester Metropolitan, Cambridge, Leeds, Newcastle, Queen Mary's, and Bradford Universities; all of whom have occupied parts of their Universities in support of Gaza.
This is a non-violent and inclusive protest. All at the University of Nottingham are encouraged to participate. During the occupation we will adhere to the same codes of personal conduct that are expected of us as members of the academic community. Any disruption to our peers' education is expressly against our wishes and we will respect the rights of others to disagree. Universities should be places where freedom of expression, debate and critical discourse are encouraged, and the student movement in the UK and internationally has a proud tradition of protest and solidarity actions against social injustice.
The occupied space has become a place for discussion, debate and education. There is food and drink; and we are organising lectures, talks, conferences and film screenings! The occupation is being coordinated on a consensus basis, with roles and tasks for everyone who wishes to be in some way involved. If you are interested in getting involved in a particular aspect, be it media work, food preperation, posters/fliers, coordinating or any other task, do head on down to B62!
We welcome all those who are concerned about the plight of the people of Gaza to come along and join us in this empowering action to work for peace and justice in Gaza. So, come on down! Join the occupation!
For updates and a full list of our demands see: http://occupationnottingham.wordpress.com/
Nottingham Uni in Solidarity with Gaza"
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