The University of Melbourne says campus protests against the war in Gaza have been infiltrated by outside agitators, but students reject the claim.
The University of Melbourne has given Victoria Police the green light to break up a pro-Palestinian protest that is now occupying a major building on campus, opening the door for a potentially ugly confrontation.
Melbourne University student and one of the protest organisers Varisha Ariadna said claims the protest been taken over by non-students were untrue.Advertisement Volunteers from Melbourne Activist Legal Support came to observe police action. However, protesters and campus security told this masthead that police attendance had been minimal over the two days.
The students said the threats related to them calling for “intifada” – an Arabic word for uprising associated with Hamas terror attacks against Israel – and chanting the pro-Palestine slogan “from the river to the sea”. Wesley said the timing of any action against the Arts West occupiers would be determined by police. In the meantime, there will be an increased police and security presence at the Parkville campus on the edge of Melbourne’s CBD.
The union’s University of Melbourne branch also called on the university to protect the rights of students and staff to express their vies “without fear or outside interference.”Where union branch president David Gonzalez described the atmosphere inside the building as safe and well-organised, Wesley said he found it intimidating.
“I spoke to a student earlier today and he basically said, ‘I think they are a bunch of wankers and I just want them to leave’.”
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