Two Cardiff University students suspended after participating in pro-Palestine protest

Two Cardiff University students have been suspended with immediate effect after participating in a pro-Palestine protest in October.

In an open letter posted on their Instagram, Caerdydd Students For Palestine is calling for all disciplinary action against the two students, Harriet and November, to be dropped.

Harriet, a postgraduate student in SOCSCI, and November, an undergraduate student from the School of English, Communication and Philosophy, were both suspended following the demonstration, which was held in response to the involvement of the RAF and MOD in a careers event. Both have been banned from campus, their Students’ Union and suspended from their studies with immediate effect.

Caerdydd Students For Palestine described the protest in October as “loud, but peaceful until university security decided to harass, intimidate and physically assault students and members of the community.”

In the Instagram post, students shared their experiences with campus security saying that: “Pro-Palestinian students have had to endure repeated incidences of harassment, violence and intimidation from members of University security”.

Caerdydd Students For Palestine told The Cardiff Tab: “As students of Cardiff University we are ashamed to be a part of an institution which is trying to silence its own student body by attempting to remove their freedom of speech and right to protest.”

They added: “We stand in solidarity with the students who were suspended, and condemn our University for their decision to suspend them because these students were well within their right to free speech as students.”

“We also thank both the UCU and ACORN Union for the support they have shown to the suspended students, as well as the countless number of Cardiff University students, alumni, student societies, and other external organisations who have signed our open letter”.

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A spokesperson also claimed that during a protest on 14th October, protestors were subjected to harassment by university security and some students were allegedly physically assaulted.

They continued by saying a member of university security allegedly tried to “rip banners out of students’ hands and attempted to push them on the floor.” The group says it put the complaint to the university but that it was “ignored”.

A Cardiff University spokesperson said: “We support and respect the right to peaceful and lawful protest, but actions that potentially breach behaviour expectations, our dignity at work and study policy and result in disruption to the wider University community will not be tolerated. As these cases are subject to confidential and on-going investigations it would be inappropriate to offer further comment.”

Featured image via Instagram