Over a hundred student protesters at the University of Sheffield protested the war in Gaza on Tuesday afternoon, despite calls from Students’ Union (SU) management and the Government to stop.
Two years on from the October 7th attack, protesters chanted outside the Students’ Union: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, and “Your uni is covered in Palestinian blood.”
In communications seen by Forge Press, the SU had requested the organisers to change the date of the rally, highlighting anxieties amongst the student body’s Jewish community. These requests were refused.
Anton Parocki, 22, a student and member of the Revolutionary Communist Party [RCP] at the University of Sheffield, organised the rally.
He said: “There is a deep anger in society at the genocide that is going on. We’re putting on this rally to ask the question of where to next?
“The SU should be the voice that is putting these kinds of movements on because students are angry, but they’re sitting on their hands because they don’t want to rock the boat.
Referencing similar large protests in Italy, he continued: “The point of this movement is to build something that can inspire workers of the need to go on strike.
“That’s the only way we can see a free Palestine, because clearly, Keir Starmer will not set Palestine free.”
The University of Sheffield responded to the protest in a statement, saying it had “not been approved by the Students’ Union, nor the University”.
They said: “Student society events require prior Students’ Union approval, which was not granted after the group was formally asked to move the date.
“We continue to support our staff and students who have been directly affected or deeply troubled by the conflict.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged students not to join pro-Palestinian protests for fear of rising antisemitism, deeming it “un-British” and “disrespectful.”
Attending today’s peaceful protest, fourth-year Sheffield student Will Battersby condemned the Prime Minister.
He said: “Keir Starmer actively supports genocide. He is attempting to cut disability benefits, and wants to push cuts to winter fuel allowances that would kill British people.
“If that’s what he calls Britishness, then I’m happy to not be called British by him.”
Whilst the United Nations has defined Israel’s actions in Gaza as a “genocide”, many Western governments, the UK, France and the U.S. included, have stopped short of using the same label.
Harry Gayle, who lives in Sheffield and is also a member of the university’s RCP, added:
“Keir Starmer is part of a government that has not delivered for the people of this country and that is continuing to send weapons to a genocidal state, so I have absolutely no regard for his opinion of me.
“There’s been a genocide for two years. That is the main point. Thousands and thousands of Palestinians have been killed. They’re trying to be exited off their land.
“That is a genocide. I’m here protesting a genocide.”
Yesterday, Israel and Hamas reached an agreement on the first stage of the ceasefire plan in Gaza, pausing fighting in the war-torn territory and offering the strongest prospect yet for the end of the two-year conflict that has killed tens of thousands and sparked global protests.
At the moment, it’s uncertain if the ceasefire will quiet the wave of student protests seen nationwide.
