Pro-Palestine protesters disrupt senior management meeting at the University of Sheffield

Pro-Palestine protesters have disrupted a meeting of senior University of Sheffield management.

Sheffield Campus Coalition for Palestine (SCCP) entered the meeting of the University Senate on Wednesday 19th March – calling for the university to cut ties with the arms manufacturers and accusing it of “repressing” students.

The University Senate comprises of members of the University Executive Board, Heads of Departments, elected staff members, and six student representatives. Vice-chancellor Koen Lamberts was in attendance.

In a video posted to Instagram, one protester told the meeting: “We demand that this university cease all tactics of repression against students and staff for speaking, writing, and protesting in the name of justice and liberation.

“We call for university management to act in accordance with their advertised commitment to protect free speech and academic freedom for students and staff to express their beliefs without fear of punitive measures.”

They added: “This is supposed to be a space for students wanting to be heard but the university is simply repressing students.”

The protesters also called for the university to “sever all ties” with Israeli universities and Israeli companies and affiliated institutions “complicit in illegal Israeli settlements”, and to disclose all current research and subsequent profits relating to arms companies via creating “ongoing mechanisms of accountability and transparency”.

The University of Sheffield has existing platforms which it intends to allow communication with students on concerns such as student-staff committees, meetings with Students’ Union officers, as well as Ask Your University and University Conversation events.

Another clip shows the group chanting “free Palestine” and “your profits are covered in Palestinian blood”.

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It follows series of protest action by SCCP at the university – including disrupting the 2023 opening ceremony of the Wave, last year’s Education Awards, and the Octagon Centre Careers Fair.

A two-month long encampment outside Sheffield Students’ Union was evicted following a court order in July, yet was succeeded by a week-long relaunch in Weston Park in Freshers’ Week.

Despite a ceasefire implemented in January 2025, Israel has launched air strikes on Gaza this week. Since the beginning of the conflict on 7th October 2023, more than 45,000 Palestinians and more than 1,700 people in Israel have been killed.

In response to Wednesday’s University Senate protest, a spokesperson for the University of Sheffield said: “The University of Sheffield has research and innovation partnerships with companies across a range of sectors, including defence, to tackle productivity and sustainability challenges and contribute to UK security.

“While the University fully supports freedom of speech, academic freedom and the right to peaceful protest, we do not condone any actions that disrupt events or intimidate students, staff, or visitors.

“We encourage students and staff to engage with us through established communication channels to discuss important issues.”

Featured images via @palestine.sccp on Instagram