Pro-Palestine protestors clash with security and block entry to Sheffield Uni careers fair

Security clashed with Pro-Palestine protestors after they made a barricade outside the University of Sheffield’s careers fair on Monday.

Students attempting to get into the careers fair had to jump over protestors who were blocking their entry by sitting on the paths leading up to the building.

Footage of the protest obtained by The Sheffield Tab showed members of security trying to move Palestine supporters out of the way by dragging them, nudging them with their feet, as well as pulling their arms and legs.

A video was also posted online by People and Planet showing security and stewards attempting to physically move protestors. One student can also been seen trying to be lifted off the floor by two female stewards.

Police were present from the start of the protest and after an additional police van arrived, officers were met with chants of “piggy piggy piggy.”

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

These chants, directed at security staff and police officers, were accompanied by others as protestors called for a boycott of the careers fair and accusing the university of genocide and ecocide.

At one point, security officers locked arms with protestors soon after attempting to knock over barriers that had been put in place.

The protest began at around 11.30am, with protestors chanting a now familiar collection of pro-Palestinian chants such as “free, free Palestine”, and displaying banners reading “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, the speaker said: “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.

A student from People and Planet Sheffield, who did not wish to be named, told The Tab Sheffield: “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.”

Furthermore, students wishing to enter the Octagon for the careers fair had to show ID, and have their bags searched using metal detector wands.

A number of SCCP protestors were masked, as they have consistently been at protests.

Earlier this year, they told The Tab Sheffield 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.

Protestors from SCCP have also repeatedly told The Tab Sheffield that they have not received substantive engagement from the University of Sheffield since they began their protest actions. Protestors confirmed again at the protest that this still remained the case.

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, the security company present, AMRC, and SCCP were contacted for comment but they have not yet responded. 

Featured image via People and Planet