UK POLICE VIOLENTLY DETAIN PRO-PALESTINE STUDENTS AT OXFORD UNIVERSITY

A group of students, members of Oxford Action for Palestine, launched a peaceful
sit-in in the Wellington Square office building.

By Presstv

More than a dozen students have been arrested at Oxford University after British
police cracked down a pro-Palestine protest.  A group of students, members of
Oxford Action for Palestine, launched a peaceful sit-in on Thursday morning in
the Wellington Square office building to demand the administration to agree for
negotiation.  However, the group said that instead of engaging in a dialogue
with them, the university placed the building under lock-down and called the
police.  "When informed of the threat of arrest, the students willingly stood up
and voluntarily offered to vacate the premises," it said in a statement".

In a move of escalation, all students were arrested and their phones were
confiscated, taking away their ability to record or film from inside." "It is
evident the administration would rather arrest, silence, and physically assault
its own students than confront it's enabling of Israel’s genocide in Gaza," the
group said on X.

Oxford police are continuing their violent assaults and arrests of peaceful
protesters, here seen taking away a student on a stretcher.

Oxford Action for Palestine (@OxAct4Pal) May 23, 2024

Speaking at the scene, Oxford politics student Kendall Gardner said police had
dragged students out of the way. "We've been met with extreme violence and
hostility." One student was seen being carried out of the building on a
stretcher by four officers and put into the back of a police van.  Others were
then filmed being pushed to the floor and dragged by their coats.  Police
confirmed 16 people have been arrested.  Dozens of students later gathered
outside a building where the heads of all university colleges were meeting,
demanding that leaders negotiate with the group and those who have been arrested
be released.

It is evident the administration would rather arrest, silence, and physically
assault it's own students than confront it's enabling of israel’s genocide in
Gaza.

Oxford Action for Palestine (@OxAct4Pal) May 23, 2024

"We intend to remain until the administration agrees to negotiate with our
coalition, which has called on the university to end it's enabling of Israel's
genocide, occupation, and ongoing colonization of Palestine," the group's
statement said.  For the past two weeks, Oxford students have launched protests
and an encampment, demanding the university end investments in and partnerships
with companies and institutions involved in Israel's war on Gaza, and it's
occupation of Palestinian land.