Viva Palestina Saturday 2nd March 2pm
Category Archives: Protest
Sheffield University failing students from Gaza
For the last 10 years the University of Sheffield has offered an annual taught postgraduate scholarship to a student from Gaza. Since 2013, the University has offered tuition, accommodation and a small maintenance grant.
Despite this legacy, the University has not made any public statements about the welfare and wellbeing of any current or past Gazan students.
As a result of this, on the 7th February 2024, a group of 27 Students Union sabbatical officers – who are elected to represent students – published an open letter to the University’s senior leadership sharing their profound concern and dismay due to the absence of a public statement or evident action to support Palestinians who have graduated from, or are studying at the University.
The University of Sheffield has not replied to this request despite the continuing Israeli attacks on every university in Gaza, and the killing of over 80 professors and academics.
The University must support its students and alumni, and respond to the open letter.
Call for Alumni to send a letter
If you are or have been part of the University of Sheffield, please email their alumni department using our template letter.
Despite providing an annual scholarship to a student from Gaza since 2013, the University had been silent – it has not responded to the open letter sent in Feb ‘24 by over 25 former and current Student Union Sabbatical Officers, who requested confirmation of the support available for Palestinian students and alumni.
Insist that the University make: a public statement on its support for Gazan students and alumni!
More information about attacks on the right to education in Gaza
https://scholarsagainsthewar.org
https://euromedmonitor.org/en/article/6108
https://palestine.un.org/en/258658-un-agencies-end-conflict-imperative-return-learning-palestine
Sign petition to end complicity with Israeli Apartheid!
Do you live, work or study in Sheffield? If so, please read, sign and circulate this petition today – we must reach our target of 5,000 signatures in a fortnight!
The people of Gaza have been under barbaric genocidal attacks for weeks. Over 30,000 people have been killed – 11,000 of them are children. Yet still there is no ceasefire.
In the West Bank, Palestinians continue to to be forcibly removed from their homes and face daily threats from settlers and the military. Over 7,000 Palestinians are detained in Israeli jails, without charge or trial.
It’s time for Sheffield City Council to show leadership once more. We call on Sheffield City Council to declare our city an Israeli Apartheid-free zone and to issue a statement of solidarity with Palestinian people.
IDF OFF CAMPUS: PROTEST 12.30, 14TH FEB
Zechariah Deutsch, an Associate Chaplain at the University of Sheffield and several other universities travelled to Israel to serve as an IDF reservist.
Deutsch sent a video to students stating that “what Israel is trying to do is destroy the evil”. He is an active participant in Israel’s merciless campaign of occupation, genocide and ethnic cleansing.
We charge him with genocide! He has the blood of Palestinians on his hands!
Deutsch has now returned to the UK, and is visiting the universities he is associated with. He has already been to Leeds and now he is planned to visit our campus on this Wednesday.
Our university has done nothing in response to our letters! They have failed to cut ties with this genocidal maniac! STAND WITH US AND SAY NO IDF ON OUR CAMPUS! THE UNIVERSITY MUST CUT TIES WITH DEUTSCH AND BAN HIS PRESENCE!
Join us and say no to war criminals on campus!
Time: Wednesday 14th February 2024, 12:30pm
Location: University of Sheffield, SU concourse
Bring banners and placards. Stay safe and use a face mask!
FREE PALESTINE!
Don’t bank on Barclays!!
Barclays is bankrolling Israel’s genocidal assault on Palestinians through its financial ties with arms companies that sell weapons to Israel.
We’re calling on all concerned people to boycott all Barclays services until the bank ends its complicity in Israel’s attacks on Palestinians.
IN SHEFFIELD, we are camping outside Barclays for 24 hours to draw attention to their complicity with genocide and to continue our demand for an Israeli Apartheid Free Zone in this great city.
Let’s not forget Sheffield’s great tradition of solidarity – from the anti slavery sugar boycott in the 1850s, solidarity with Chilean refugees in the 1970s and South African anti apartheid campaign in the 1980s when Barclays were boycotted before and paid the price!!
How will the council answer?
In advance of the full meeting of the council and a day of action by hundred of workers across many sectors on Wednesday, we are wondering how the council will answer our questions:
on Israeli Apartheid , on the ICJ ruling, on the council’s relationship with Barclays Bank and on South Yorkshire Pension investments
The council MUST act now!
For 8 days two Palestinian women camped outside the Town Hall supported by many hundred of Sheffield people – who came to visit or stay with them throughout the day and night. They had three clear demands.
The one demand in our grasp at a local level was that the council declare Sheffield an Israeli Apartheid Free zone and take action to ensure none of its operations can have ties with Israel. Please read this to find out what this means and what you can do.
On February 7th hundreds of people will take action for Gaza in their workplace while the council meets in full for the first time this year. In the wake of the ICJ ruling, surely it is time for the council to act:
Excellent boycott action Saturday Feb 3rd
Over 100 people took part in a vibrant boycott action in Sheffield today: prepared with songs and good voice over 50 walked through Waitrose singing various boycott songs, including the new Cokebusters!
The crowd then moved on to Aldi – their staff did not seem to mind too much; Waitrose meanwhile had blocked all the isles and called the police – who remained at a respectful distance and enjoyed the concert.
HELP TO KEEP UNRWA FUNDED: write to your MP
After the ICJ ruling, then the dust is thrown; suddenly the UK government halts all funding. Another form of collective punishment. We need to reinstate funding for UNWRA
Actions this Friday 2nd & Saturday 3rd Feb
On Friday, a vigil for Palestine with HealthCare workers for Palestine. On Saturday a boycott action. Details in images below
Boycott actions are a way of engaging people directly, talking to them about how their own purchasing choices can make an impact and hep bring them to account for their actions. Please joins us this Saturday.
