University of Sheffield careers fair barricaded by pro-Palestine protestors

University security confronted pro-Palestine protestors outside the careers fair in the Octagon today when they attempted to block access to the building.

Students attempting to get into the careers fair had to be helped by security to jump over protestors blocking their entry. After the protestors moved in order to prevent that, those wishing to attend the event had to jump over adjacent barriers and railings, with the help of university security staff and police.

The protestors, who were from the Sheffield Campus Coalition for Palestine and People and Planet Sheffield, aimed verbal abuse at individual members of security staff who were attempting to block them.

They also pushed at the security staff, who at one point locked arms, and attempted to knock over barriers that had been put in place.

Police were present from the start of the protest. When an additional police van arrived, officers became the target of verbal abuse, with chants of: “piggy piggy piggy.” These chants, directed at security staff and police officers were accompanied by others, calling for a boycott of the careers fair and accusing the university of genocide and ecocide.

The protest began at around 11.30am, as advertised by organisers online. Protestors chanted a now familiar collection of pro-Palestinian chants, such as: “free, free Palestine” and displayed banners, such as: “ethical careers or no careers.”

At around 11.50am the group congregated to hear a speaker from People and Planet Sheffield, who took aim at the University of Sheffield’s work with defence companies at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, as well as companies present at the careers fair.

To finish her speech, she pleaded: “All that we ask is that we can attend university and pursue our own education without fees contributing to an active genocide.”

At 12pm the group moved to the Octagon, and the confrontation with security staff began. The attempts to block the Octagon continued until 1pm when the protestors left and, after a brief period of chanting at the SU underpass, dispersed.

The Sheffield Campus Coalition for Palestine (SCCP) has been the foremost pro-Palestine campaigning organisation on campus since they began a protest encampment at the start of May this year, the campus ended after the university was granted a possession order by a Sheffield court.

They temporarily relaunched their encampment for the duration of Freshers’ Week, and have said they will continue protest action for the foreseeable future.

SCCP’s temporary Freshers’ Week encampment

Individuals from People and Planet Sheffield have taken part in Sheffield Campus Coalition for Palestine’s protest actions over recent months. But this is the first time that the Students’ Union affiliated organisation itself has backed protests.

Sheffield Students’ Union represents all students in Sheffield, which would include both the protestors, and the students who protestors were attempting to physically prevent from accessing the careers fair.

A student from People and Planet Sheffield, who did not wish to be named, said: “You might think this is extreme trying to blockade the careers fair people came to a rally and people wanted to do that. This is the students speaking and they’re speaking out and they’re against university management and they want climate justice and they want a free Palestine.”

The careers fair will continue until Wednesday, the student protestor continued: “As People and Planet, we’re not playing stuff for the next two days – there may very well be other groups back.”

Security staff prior to the disruption, with an X-ray wand on the table

Security was been tighter than usual in anticipation of the protest action, which was announced on social media by organisers last week. Students wishing to enter the Octagon for the careers fair had to show ID, and have their bags searched using X-ray wands.

A number of SCCP protestors were masked, as they have consistently been at protests. Earlier this year, they told The Sheffield Tab that they have concerns about their safety and surveillance, remarking: “It’s for personal safety, students don’t feel comfortable with all these disciplinary threats.”

And, it was fear of potential disciplinary action that was behind the group’s decision to decline to defend themselves in court by naming specific people as defendants, during the legal battle over their eviction earlier this summer.

A spokesperson from the University of Sheffield, said: “We fully support freedom of speech and the right to peaceful protest within the law. However, we also have a responsibility to maintain a safe, effective, and welcoming environment for everyone.

“We have been clear that protests should not disrupt any teaching, events or University business, or intimidate students, staff and visitors. At today’s Careers Fair, protesters made a significant attempt to disrupt the event and prevent other students from gaining entry.

“We are committed to providing our students with opportunities to research and meet a wide range of organisations offering placements and graduate jobs at our careers fairs so they can make their own informed decisions about their future careers.”

Sheffield Students’ Union and university-hired security were contacted for comment.