Cardiff University evicts students protesting on campus

Cardiff University has evicted pro-Palestine protestors and called for a court order to stop the “distress and disruption” allegedly caused by them.

The documents, which were served on 30th May, were provided for the purpose of Cardiff University’s interest of ownership of the “relevant land” as part of evidence for the High Court.

Caerdydd Students for Palestine set up encampment outside the Main Building of the university in May 2024 calling for peace in Palestine. The group of students returned to the Main Building last month but have since been served an eviction notice from the university, forcing them to leave.

via Caerdydd Students for Palestine on Instagram

Students, alongside members of the local community, have been camped on Horseshoe Drive, of the Main University building of Cardiff University at different points during the past year. Their aim has been for the university to take a “stand against the violence taking place in Palestine”.

Their protests have consisted of peaceful demonstrations, pickets and community days.

According to Wales Online, the Glamorgan Building is one among the properties Cardiff University has sought an order for possession, alongside the Main Building, Bute Building and the Centre for Student Life.

Cardiff University is also seeking an order for precautionary injunctive relief, to prevent the occupation of these properties, Main Building including Horseshoe Drive, Glamorgan, Bute Building, Centre for Student, Life 50-51, Park Place, Sir Martin Evans Building, Music Building, Law Building, Tower Building, Abacws, Trevithick Building, Queen’s Buildings, and SPARK Building.

A Cardiff University spokesperson said on 3rd June: “The encampment outside Cardiff University’s Main Building left voluntarily over the weekend.

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“The documents were served on Friday (30th May). They are publicly available here.

“The encampment on Horseshoe Drive of Main Building was established without the University’s consent and raised a number of safety, well-being, and safeguarding issues.

“Whilst efforts were made to engage, members of the encampment largely refused to identify themselves and chose to conceal their identities. As a result, we were unable to establish if they are Cardiff University students.

“While the encampment has been relatively peaceful, there have been a number of unacceptable incidents.  In addition to occupying Horseshoe Drive without consent, members of the encampment have blocked both entrances to Main Building, preventing staff and students from work, study and preparation for exams, occupied rooms in our Glamorgan Building, and accessed the roof.  The encampment also continued to invite people from outside our community – without University consent – to join them for events.

“These incidents have had an adverse impact on University activities – including research, teaching, and learning – and have caused disruption and distress to members of our University community.

“The safety, security, and well-being of everyone at our University remains our primary concern. We have a duty to ensure that all staff and students can live, work, and study without fear or distress.

“Following careful consideration, the University issued a Notice to Vacate to the encampment on Friday 16th May. The deadline to leave was ignored and they continued to occupy without permission to do so, in breach of that notice.

“As a result, we were left with little option other than to seek an order for possession and an order for precautionary injunctive relief from the Court which, if granted, will allow us to secure the University campus.

“This was not a decision we took lightly. However, this action is necessary to bring an end to the ongoing disruption.

“We appreciate that some may disagree with this action and it could be interpreted as curtailing the right to protest and freedom of speech, but this is not the case. This decision is about ensuring the safety of everyone in our University community – including those within the encampment itself – and is similar action to that taken by other universities who have experienced unauthorised encampments.”

Caerdydd Students For Palestine has been contacted for comment via email but has not yet responded.

Feature image via Caerdydd Students For Palestine on Instagram