P.S. School of Oriental and African Studies in London also had a 24hr occupation, and got all of their demands met.
--------------------------
*The Old Theatre is now under Occupation*
PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Over forty pro Palestine students have occupied a lecture theatre at the London School of Economics to demand that the university releases a statement condemning the attack on Gaza and divests from arms companies that supply the Israeli military.
Students entered the Old Theatre and sat down on the stage after the Students' Union passed a motion in support of their demands. A lecture continued as scheduled with the students on the stage.
The group want LSE Director to issue a statement condemning the Israeli violence on Gaza.
"LSE is an institution founded on the Fabian values that were the precursor of the human rights agenda of modern politics. LSE must restate those values and condemn state criminality. It is not a matter of politics, it is a matter of humanity," a spokesperson said.
The group are also demanding that LSE divests from arms firm BAE Systems, an arms company who supply the Israeli military.
"The fact that LSE invests in BAE Systems means that it is directly profiting from the collective punishment of the Gazan people. Our University will remain tainted for as long as it is funded by unlawful military aggression. The LSE must divest from BAE and other arms companeis immeditately.
The LSE also invests in arms companies Boeing, Rolls Royce and BHP Billiton, a firm the School says supplies nuclear material for warheads.
They have also issued several demands related to providing material support for Palestinian students including providing 5 fully paid scholarships for Palestinian students, books and computers for Palestinian universities and facilitation for fund raising activities.
The LSE has said "disowned" the protest and said that it will hold the Students' Union responsible for any damage. It has however said that it will not remove the occupiers and have agreed not to prevent free movement in and out of the occupied theatre.
Over 250 students and academics wrote to Director Howard Davies at the beginning of the year to demand a statement and other demands similar to those being demanded by the occupation. Davies agreed to waiver application fees for students affected by the crisis but refused to issue a condemnatory statement, pledge further material assistance or support divestment from arms firms.
Davies claimed that the School does not take positions on "political issues". This is in stark contrast to an overtly political statement issued by the Davies in May 2007 condemning a UCU (University and College Union) resolution concerning the Israeli Occupation, and previous condemnations by LSE of South African Apartheid and the Tiananmen Square massacre in the 1980's.
* DEMANDS IN FULL *
1) *Statement*
The LSE should release a statement condemning the Israeli attack on Gaza and demanding a ceasefire. LSE is an institution founded on the Fabian values that were the precursor of the human rights agenda of modern politics. LSE must restate those values and condemn state criminality. It is not a matter of politics, it is a matter of humanity. A statement condemning Israeli violence is fully in keeping with the founding principles of our university.
2) *Divestment *
The LSE currently holds investments in BAE Systems, a firm that the Campaign Against the Arms Trade (caat.org.uk) states provides weapons and ammunition for the Israeli military. This means that our university is being directly funded by the Israeli war on Gaza. The LSE must divest from BAE immediately.
3) *5 fully paid scholarships for Palestinian students*
At a University as diverse and international as LSE, Palestinian students are grossly underrepresented in the student body when compared to other groups.
4) *Fundraising day*
The LSE administration should facilitate a 'fundraising day' where buckets will be in every lecture and seminar to collect money for the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians
5) *Books and Computers*
The LSE has a £26 million surplus and is lucky enough to be able to regularly invest in new equipment. Any computers or books due to be got rid of at the end of Lent and Summer terms should be donated to the University and to schools that have been bombed in Gaza.
6) *Amnesty*
LSE has a proud history of student activism. Students united to campaign against apartheid, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and more recently around divestment from the arms trade. All students have a democratic right to peaceful protest and students should not be prevented from expressing their opinions by fear of reprisals.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Updates will be available at *http://lseoccupation.blogs
2. It is the official policy of the LSE Students' Union to demand a statement from LSE and demand divestment from arms companies
3. Contact Estelle Cooch; *s.e.cooch@lse.ac.uk*
---
The motion "Defend Gaza: Condemn Israeli Massacre" *passed in todays UGM*. The Students Union supports the creation of an emergency fund to waive tuition/application fees for Palestinians students affected; support links between LSE faculty and Palestinians universities ; the call to recall our Ambassador, end preferential trade.
With over 1,000 Palestinians killed - 300 of them children - and over 5,000 injured, the Students' Union condemns the Israeli massacre in Gaza. Understanding the sanctity of human beings, students have voted in support of the Palestine Society's declaration that we will not sit by as Israel continues its persecution of 1.5 million Palestinian.
---
* Latest Bombings *
Even by the Israeli Forces' depraved standards, today's bombings reached new lows for the grotesque. Three acts in the last 24 hours show their total lack of humanity and total disregard for the dignity of the dead.
Late yesterday, news reports reached the world of how the Israeli Army had shelled the holy burial grounds at the main Gaza cemetery in northern Gaza City's Sheik Radwan neighbourhood. Even the dead are denied peace.
*http://english.sina.com/wo
Then the Israeli Air force attacked yet another UN building sheltering 700 refugees. The air strike injured three UN workers and from eyewitness accounts, they used illegal phosphorus bombs. The building hit by the Israeli Air Force also contained tonnes of much needed medical supplies, which now as a direct result of their attack has destroyed these vital supplies.
*
http://www.guardian.co.uk/
*<https://exchange.lse.ac.uk
And finally, if the Israeli army doesn't kill you the first time, and you manage to make your way to one of the few remaining medical centres, you'll still not be safe. Today Israeli forces shelled Al Quds hospital making the medical treatment of the innocent victims of Israel's slaughter even tougher. According to the head of emergency services at the hospital, Dr. Bashar Murad, two of the Israeli missiles used also included white phosphorus.
---
*Please come join the occupation of the Old Theatre!*
In solidarity
LSESU Palestine Society
(from the Old Theatre)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment