Dear Students of Alareer Square,

We, the University of Liverpool and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine UCU branch, once again express our unwavering solidarity and support for the students who have protested against the destruction of Gaza by the Israeli Defence Force, and especially to the student who is now facing court proceedings as a result of the events that took place at Alareer Square during the weekend of June 22-23.

We remain deeply concerned about the actions taken against students participating in peaceful demonstrations at the University of Liverpool in support of the Palestinian people amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Footage of students being pushed to the ground and dragged by police highlighted the excessive measures taken during these events. We strongly reassert that physical force and intimidation against students engaged in legitimate and peaceful protest have no place on the University campus.

It is particularly troubling that one student is now facing court as a consequence of these actions, which we believe reflects a failure on the part of the University to uphold its duty of care to its students. The fact that the trigger for the police intervention was the use of chalk exemplifies the unnecessary escalation and criminalisation of peaceful protest.

We believe the University should have done more to discourage police escalation and protect the rights of its students and should now be doing more to support students facing legal consequences for peaceful political protest.

The President of the PCS union conveyed his entire union’s wholehearted support to the students, alongside the RMT, UCU, the Liverpool dock workers, and Liverpool TUC. Solidarity was received from across the world, from student unions and movements in the USA, Brazil, and Kashmir, including a central Brazilian trade union movement and the Palestinian postal workers union. From their own experience, these organisations recognise the threat that a university closing down protest and freedom of expression poses to a nation’s wellbeing.

We recall the University’s early statements, which emphasised the importance of peaceful protest and free speech. These principles are fundamental to the democratic life of our academic community, and the students’ stand is a crucial contribution to this ethos.

The University has not spoken out to condemn the police assaults on students, nor to offer legal and other support to the student facing criminal charges.

We urge the University to take a firm stance in defence of its students. As a minimum, we expect the University to confirm that there will be no detriment to students involved in the encampment, nor to staff who have supported our students, and to express full support for any students arrested for exercising their right to freedom of expression. Moreover, we stand in full support of the student now facing court, recognising the bravery and importance of their actions.

In solidarity,
Mark O’Brien
President of University of Liverpool and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine UCU