News / University of Bristol
Students set up pro-Palestinian encampment in Royal Fort Gardens
At around 4am on May Day morning, around half a dozen students from the University of Bristol peacefully established a pro-Palestinian encampment in Royal Fort Gardens.
Over the course of Monday, their numbers doubled as Bristol students copy the tactics seen in campuses across the USA which have resulted in violent scenes in some cities.
Protesters are angry at the university’s involvement through research and financial investments in arms companies allegedly profiting from the Israel-Hamas war.
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One of the protesters, who would only give their name as Sam, told Bristol24/7 that “any act that enables these companies to function, enables them to supply Israel with arms, which it is using to commit ethnic cleansing against the Palestinian people”.
They added: “This camp is a protest against university complicity, showing that the student body do not want their tuition fees going towards funding genocide.”
Students are protesting against the university’s alleged ties to arms companies – photo: Jake Tapping
Another student taking part in the occupation said: “Despite numerous meetings, open letters, walkouts and occupations, the University of Bristol has thus far failed to take any action to divest from the arms industry.”
“We think that escalation is necessary.”
Protesters are encouraging more students to support their efforts over the coming days.
Sam added: “We want this protest to be a properly democratic movement, we want the student body to engage with us and vote on the demands that we have set out as part of this encampment.”
Banners were erected as part of the student protest at Royal Fort Gardens – photo: Jake Tapping
Another protester, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “Student protest will continue until our demands of divestment are met, and until academic freedom and student safety are adequately protected on campus.
“The global movement of students for liberation and emancipation will not end until we see a free Palestine. None of us are free until all of us are free.”
A university spokesperson said: “We are aware that a group has set up several tents in Royal Fort Gardens. We fully respect the rights of our students to peacefully protest within the law.”
Main photo: Jake Tapping
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