Students have barricaded themselves inside their university in a pro-Palestine protest and say they won’t leave until the institution ‘ends its complicity in genocide’.
The small group of left-wing activists have used tables and chairs to blockade themselves inside the Wills Memorial Building at the University of Bristol.
It’s the latest protest to rock the education establishment, with a number of other students having locked themselves away in various parts of the university for 11 days and posting videos on TikTok about their demonstration.
But the activists’ ‘tiktokking shenanigans’ have been mocked online, with a veteran Royal Navy chief, Rear-Admiral Chris Parry, tweeting: ‘Cut off food, water and wi-fi.’
Posting on social media about the latest stunt, political action group Student Action Bristol said: ‘We have just heard that some students have occupied the Wills memorial building. We stand in solidarity! Free Palestine, Arms off Campus!’
Students used tables and chairs to barricade themselves into a building at the University of Bristol
A post on Instagram, by Student Action Bristol, revealed activists had occupied the Wills Memorial Building
Pictured is the Wills Memorial Building at the University of Bristol which students are occupying
It added the students were ‘occupying’ the building ‘because the University of Bristol is complicit in the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people’.
‘As things stand, all doors are locked and no one can enter the hall, the occupiers say this will be the case until demands have been met,’ it continued.
Activists holed-up in the latest university building have insisted they won’t be moved until the institution ‘cuts all ties with arms companies’ as well as ‘protect anti-Zionist beliefs’ and ‘cease the harassment and intimidation of Palestinian students’
The list of ultimatums issued to university leaders includes demanding Bristol ends ‘all research contracts with arms companies including… BAE Systems, Airbus and Rolls Royce’.
‘Bristol University has so far ignored demands to end its complicity in the genocide of Palestinians,’ the group added in a post on Instagram.
‘Student Action Bristol stands in solidarity with the occupiers and all who refuse to stay silent while our siblings are murdered. Failure to act makes us all complicit.’
Not everyone was supportive of the students’ protest, however, with some branding the demonstration ‘pathetic’
Pictured is the University of Bristol, where two demonstrations are taking place
Student activists issued a series of demands over social media, which including urging the university to ‘cut all ties with arms companies’
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, one person said: ‘Soon as their Pot Noodles run out and they want to take their laundry round to Mum’s, they’ll quit.’
In another tongue-in-cheek post, one person wrote: ‘Who have the University been slaughtering this time? You can’t turn your back for a minute before some lecturer is lining victims up against a wall for the firing squad.’
While a third added: ‘Turn off the WiFi. that’ll thwart their tik tokking shenanigans.’
Last week, students locked themselves inside the Victoria Rooms before moving to the university’s executive team management office. Yesterday they claimed to be in the 11th day of their occupation protest.
In a statement about the Victoria Rooms protest, a university spokesman the establishment’s vice-chancellor Prof Evelyn Welch was ‘always happy to talk to students about their concerns’.
Students have been staging occupation demonstrations at the university, for almost two weeks. Pictured is an image of Student Action Bristol during a recent protest
Another group of students have blockaded themselves inside the management office of the university, in Tyndall Avenue
But some on social media, including retired Royal Navy Admiral Chris Parry appeared to mock the group’s protests
‘We respect our students’ freedom of speech and right to protest’ the university told BristolLive, adding: ‘We recognise the distress and impact on all staff and students at the University of the ongoing violence and conflict in the Middle East.’
Speaking to MailOnline, a university spokesman added: ‘We are aware of this protest. We would always respect the right of our students to peacefully protest within the law.’
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