Students at Glasgow Uni disrupt classes they stage Pro-Palestine sit-in and demonstration

A group of student protesters staged a sit-in on 7th March at the University of Glasgow’s Sir Charles Wilson Building, vowing not to leave before the end of the day.

The protest, which began on Friday morning, led to the rescheduling of lectures and seminars, with university officials working to minimise disruption for students and staff.

Students from the University of Glasgow took over the building to host a series of lectures on Palestine. The Charles Wilson Building was occupied by Glasgow Against Arms and Fossil Fuels (GAAFF) and Glasgow University Justice for Palestine Society (GUJPS) in a bid to host several lectures, as well as show several documentaries on the state of the Gaza Strip and student activism.

Referred to as a “teach-in”, the move is part of an ongoing student campaign coordinated by GAAF and GUJPS to call for the university to sever ties with arms companies and enforce an academic boycott on Israel. At around 8am on Friday, students from GUJPS and GAAFF entered the university building and invited students and staff to participate in the educational events. The students are also calling for the occupied building to be renamed from the Charles Wilson Building to Ahmad Manasra Building.

A banner that reads “Dar Ahmad Manasra” which translates to “Home of Ahmad Manasra” has been placed on the university building. Ahmad Manasra is a 23-year-old Palestinian man who was convicted of two counts of attempted murder following a stabbing attack in Pisgat Ze’ev, an Israeli settlement in East Jerusalem.

He was initially sentenced to 12 years in prison, later reduced to nine and a half years. Manasra has been held in solitary confinement since 2022 and has reportedly developed serious psychological conditions while in custody.

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In an internal communications email to students and staff, the university confirmed that security personnel are present to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all individuals on campus. Additionally, four police officers were stationed in front of the Charles Wilson Building, monitoring the situation since approximately 11:30am. An update later in the day assured students that all scheduled teaching activities had been successfully relocated to alternative buildings, with notifications sent through the UofG Life app and Outlook.

“I had a lecture in the Charles Wilson this morning, but it got moved last minute. It’s frustrating, but I understand why they’re protesting,” said Rachel Williams, a second-year politics student, to The Glasgow Tab. “It seems like they’re really committed to their cause.”

Alongside the sit-in, a pro-Palestinian demonstration took place in front of the University of Glasgow library, drawing significant attention from passersby and students. Protesters carried banners, wore keffiyehs, and chanted slogans, with some calling on the university to take a stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Ahmed Khan, a third year sociology student, who attended the protest, told The Glasgow Tab: “It’s important to raise awareness, especially within universities where critical discussions should be encouraged. We want the university to acknowledge our concerns.”

However, not all students felt comfortable with the protest. “As a Jewish student, it’s unsettling to see these demonstrations without clear assurances that they remain peaceful and inclusive,” said first-year Daniel Rosen to The Glasgow Tab. “I respect the right to protest, but I also worry about rising tensions on campus.”

Another student, Leah Cohen, a fourth-year law student, expressed concerns about the impact of the demonstrations to The Glasgow Tab. “People have the right to express their views, but in the past, protests like these have led to antisemitic rhetoric. I hope the university ensures that all students feel safe.”

Ilyas Jarrar, a student involved in the protest explained to The National: “I’m here today because western institutions cannot keep profiting from the blood of my people in Palestine with immunity.

“As students of conscience we’re here to hold this shamelessly complicit university accountable and provide an anti-colonial, liberated learning zone where students can broaden their knowledge beyond the boundaries of what this university deems acceptable.”

John Turnbull, another student involved in the protest added: “Being here today is a simple moral obligation. I find it disgusting that my university can so brazenly support perhaps the most brutal genocide of my lifetime.”

A university spokesperson said: “The University of Glasgow upholds the right to freedom of expression, including the right of staff and students to engage in peaceful demonstrations.  However, we do not tolerate activities which interfere with the rights of others to go about their business in peace.”

With tensions remaining high, it is unclear whether further demonstrations will take place in the coming days.

Featured image via GAAFF