Gaza - Soas students occupy university building

[Gerrard Winstanley]

Soas students occupy university building in solidarity with Gaza 
online only

Students at the School of Oriental and African Studies (Soas) in 
London have occupied the Brunei Gallery Suite in protest at a 
Ministry of Defence exhibition being held there and in solidarity 
with the people of Gaza.

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=16880
Wednesday 14 January 2009

Socialist Worker reporter Siân Ruddick is currently at the 
occupation. "The number of students involved is growing all the 
time," she said.

"Management have refused to open the doors while the occupation is in 
progress, so the people are climbing in through the windows to join 
the protest."

The occupation started yesterday afternoon. It follows a recent 
motion at the student union condemning the exhibition, which absurdly 
seeks to present Britain's armed forces as liberal and anti-racist 
organisations.

The students are demanding that the exhibition be closed down and 
that the college produces a statement condemning the attacks on Gaza, 
in line with the views of the majority of Soas students.

The following should be read alongside this article: 
» Soas student occupation declares victory as university concedes 
demands

John Rose, author of The Myths of Zionism, will be speaking at the 
occupied gallery on the ideology of the Israeli state at 6pm this 
evening.

You can follow the progress of the SOAS occupation at its dedicated 
website » soassolidarity4gaza.blogspot.com

The students are encouraging supporters to visit the occupied gallery 
and send messages of support to soas.occupation at gmail.com