Pro-Palestine student encampment removed from Uni of Liverpool campus after court order

Pro-Palestine student protesters who occupied Abercromby Square have been removed from their space on campus following the University of Liverpool’s successful court appeal for the possession of the land.

On June 6th, the Students of Alareer Square announced the end to their 78 day long encampment, which was erected to express students’ solidarity with Palestine, and highlight demands for the university cut ties with companies involved with the current conflict.

The University of Liverpool has reinstated its ownership of the space next to the Sydney Jones Library in the wake of a possession order which was delivered to the student encampment last week.

The court notice warned the protesting students that they were required to submit their own application for possession of the land in order to remain there.

The student coalition has expressed its disappointment in the university’s “egregious move” to remove protesters from the area, and has since called the decision a “stain” on the institution’s “reputation”.

Many students online have reacted to the dissolvement of the encampment by offering solidarity with protesting students.

The area within Abercromby Square, which has now been reclaimed as private land by the university, will no longer be occupied by the group or used for teach-outs or community events.

A statement shared to the Students of Alareer Square Instagram page highlighted the group’s refusal to spend its own “resources fighting this possession order, when they are better spent helping those in Palestine”.

It continued to read: “To defend ourselves against their baseless claims of intimidation, harassment, and damage, we would have to identify the “persons unknown” charged in the possession order”.

Most Read

Plumber breaks silence on what his experience with Bonnie Blue was *really* like

Woman who ‘died’ for eight minutes describes exactly what she saw, and it’s terrifying

The bleak aftermath of Bonnie Blue’s 1,000 guys in 12 hours challenge, in pictures

“We refuse to open ourselves to UoL’s vindictive retaliation of our protest of their complicity… and put any individual student at risk of disciplinary action or liable for criminal damages”.

The Students of Alareer Square explained the decision made to end the encampment after 78 days does not mark “the end of this movement”.

“We know this cause and this fight is bigger than any of us. We are not deterred by this possession order – in fact, we are more driven than ever to keep going. The end of this encampment is not the end of this movement.

“If SLT think they’ve seen the last of us, they’re wrong. If they think we’ll leave quietly, they’re wrong. If they think we will let them rest… they are wrong. SLT – we’re nowhere near done, and we’ll see you soon”.

Hundreds of members of the student community shared support for the group online, with some individuals praising “everyone for all of their efforts” and others stating “your bravery, courage and beautiful hearts will go down in history”.

The protesting students shared a similar sentiment. The statement continued to give thanks to: “All the students at the University of Liverpool for standing with us, to staff and lecturers for their solidarity and their excellent teach-outs over the past two months”.

“And to the wider Liverpool community, for their consistent support, encouragement, motivation, donations, and solidarity”.

“You have kept our minds, bodies, and souls nourished and we’re endlessly grateful and appreciative of all of you”.