Pro-Palestine protesters barricade themselves in university exam hall

Hundreds of Manchester students have had their end-of-year exams disrupted after pro-Gaza protesters occupied a 129-year-old University building. Several dozen activists, who had set up a solidarity camp at the University of Manchester, have now barricaded themselves inside the historic Whitworth Hall. A spokesperson for the occupiers said they launched the sit-in protest on Friday night after leaders at the institution refused to negotiate with their demands.

These include a requirement for the university to end its partnership with weapons manufacturer BAE Systems and to cut ties with higher education centres in Israel . And protesters say they have enough food and water to go on for the ‘foreseeable future’, which meant ‘multiple days’ of exams would be disrupted. The action comes just days after world leaders condemned an Israeli missile strike that killed 45 people in the city of Rafah including women and children.

Sue, 22, a final year politics student and spokesperson for Manchester Left Action, which organised the occupation, said the university had ‘failed’ its students. She said: ‘The university had every chance to de-escalate this and not create this situation. ‘We gave them a warning if they did not open negotiations, there would be an escalation… they continued not to make the choice to act and not to open negotiations.

‘The university has made this situation. So they failed their students on that. ‘We have plenty of supplies and food and water, so the occupation will continue for the foreseeable future. ‘It now means that multiple days of exams will be disrupted. It’s a significant number.’

She added: ‘From communication we had with the students, it’s understood that the university has created this situation.’ Sue, who declined to give her surname, said some protesters had been injured in ‘violent’ clashes with police beside Whitworth Hall on Monday evening. And she said they had now firmed up a series of defences placed around doors at the building in case officers attempted to gain entry.

Sue said: ‘We had a very violent clash with the police last night who came to the entrance of Whitworth Hall and were very, very violent against protesters. ‘We had a police officer pull out their baton. There were injuries of some people.’ A huge Palestinian flag was seen hanging from the hall’s balcony this morning, which dates back to 1895.

A University of Manchester spokesperson said no action by staff or the police had been taken so far to evict students. They said: ‘On the evening of Monday 27 May 2024, a large demonstration occurred on campus, which included members of the public, as well as some of our students. ‘Greater Manchester Police were in attendance, as is standard procedure for large protests.

‘Despite claims made on social media, no action has been taken to remove those occupying Whitworth Hall, by either our Campus Support and Security staff or Greater Manchester Police.’ ‘We have written to the individuals occupying the Whitworth Hall complex, requesting that they vacate the premises to allow student exams to proceed as planned. Unfortunately, they have refused. ‘As a result, we are now activating our well-established exam contingency plans, but it is deeply disappointing that their actions are directly impacting on what is already, for all those undertaking assessments at present, one of the most intense periods in the academic year.’

The university, which has delivered a formal notice to the occupiers, said it has had to activate its exam contingency plans as the group has ‘refused’ its request to vacate the premises to allow student exams to proceed as planned. There will now be extra marshals to direct students to different exam locations and the start of exams affected will be delayed to factor in the disruption. ‘Various entrances and access points have been unlawfully barricaded, and occupiers have broken onto a balcony, which poses significant health and safety risks to the occupiers and others.

In a later statement, a University of Manchester spokesman added: ‘As the university has been clear in the formal notice delivered to them today and in previous formal notices issued to occupiers, the university firmly support students’ rights to freedom of speech, freedom of expression and peaceful protest. These are fundamental rights that allow for a healthy exchange of ideas. ‘However, deliberately disrupting exams clearly violates the standards of behaviour and conduct from students, as outlined in our Student Charter and student disciplinary regulations.’ Greater Manchester Police has been approached for comment.

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