‘Shut it down’: Glasgow Uni pro-Palestine students occupy JMS and resume hunger strike

Glasgow University pro-Palestine students have occupied the James McCune Smith Learning Hub (JMS), and resumed their hunger strike.

Protestors say this is due to having not heard from university management after they agreed to hold talks after yesterday’s demonstration.

Yesterday, protestors occupied the Charles Wilson Building demanding the university divests from arms manufacturers, and cuts its alleged ties with Israel-linked companies. A number of students also took part in a hunger strike.

The protest ended at 4:30pm after University Secretary David Duncan agreed to hold talks with demonstrators.

However, according to GUJPS, they have not received a response from management to organise these talks.

The protesting students have today decided to occupy JMS in opposition to this. They are holding a sit in and say that yesterday’s protest has encouraged more students to join their cause.

The occupation of JMS began at approximately 1pm.

A group of students are also sat on the road outside of the building. Vehicles are currently unable to enter the area.

In an Instagram video, GUJPS has also said a number of students have resumed their hunger strike, with three more joining them.

In the video, a spokesperson can be heard saying that the group has had numerous meetings with David Duncan but that they keep “going round in circles”.

In further videos posted to the social media site, protestors can be heard chanting “free, free Palestine”, clapping their hands and holding placards inside JMS.

It has been reported that GAAF is also taking part in the protest, and that there is currently a pro-Palestine protest taking place at the University of Edinburgh as well.

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In an email to staff and students yesterday, Mr Duncan confirmed he would be holding a meeting with protestors and said the university supports peaceful protests. However, noted that it does not “tolerate activities which interfere with the rights of others to go about their business in peace”.

The University of Glasgow told The Glasgow Tab recently about another pro-Palestine protest: “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.”

The University of Glasgow has been contacted for further comment.