BBC Scotland HQ occupied by Scottish Stop the War supporters

Reprinted from Stop the War Coalition.

Over 100 people participated in an occupation of the BBC Scotland headquarters today, demanding that the broadcaster show the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal for Gaza. Occupiers entered the building at 5pm, and despite the police threatening mass arrests to remove everyone within 15 minutes, the occupation remained for almost 4 hours.

The occupation was successful in applying additional pressure on the BBC through extensive national and international media coverage, including CNN, CBS and Al-Jazeera.

Tony Benn phoned the occupation to offer his support, saying "The decision to occupy the BBC in Glasgow must be understood as a plea for the people of Gaza, who are suffering so much and who need our help to help get the money through"

A delegation from the occupation was elected to meet with Ian Small, Head of Public Policy & Corporate Affairs and member of the BBC's Executive Board, who was called in specially to meet with the occupiers. The occupation had three main demands:

That the BBC reverse its decision and show the DEC Appeal for Gaza.
That the BBC director responsible for the decision not to air the appeal should be asked to resign.
That the BBC show coverage of the outrage of the British people against the stopping of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The BBC agreed that it will arrange a meeting with the delegation with Ken McQuarrie, the Controller of the BBC Scotland, and Atholl Duncan, the head of news for BBC Scotland on Wednesday the 28th of January.

Glasgow Stop the War Coalition is asking its supporters and those who support humanitarian aid to Gaza to gather outside the BBC on Wednesday at 4.30pm.

Protesters also promised to return unless the DEC appeal is aired. Glasgow Stop the War also called for others to take similar actions around the UK.

All the occupiers decided to leave the building together, and no arrests were made.

"The life of every man, woman and child in Gaza is just as valuable as the lives of people anywhere else in the world. The people of Britain want to help the people of Gaza, and the BBC should give them the information to do so. Every day that the BBC waits to show this appeal, more people in Gaza will die," said Penny Howard, of the Stop the War Coalition.

Student Occupations spread around the country

The Israeli massacre in Gaza has led to a wave of student protests and occupations around the country. Below are some of the Universities that have staged occupations:

Soas (day 2 victory)
London School of Economics (day 7 victory)
Essex (day 2 victory)
Birmingham (day 1 police eviction)
Oxford (day 1 victory)
Manchester Met (day 2 partial victory)
King's (day 6)
Sussex (day 6)
Warwick (day 5)
Newcastle (day 4)
Leeds (day 4)
Kingston (day 3)
Bristol (day 3)
Cambridge (day 3)

LSEoccupation and KCLoccupation are the two best websites for news on the current wave of protests.

ISM sends message of solidarity

The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) London offers support and solidarity to the numerous student occupations and sit-ins around the UK in recent weeks. This response to the most recent Israeli onslaught on Gaza has been one of the most important initiatives in the movement. Generating pressure on our higher education establishments to take a stand against Israel and the war crimes it commits is vital. We stand in solidarity with the many Palestinians, students, activists, academics and members of the public who are now being more and more vocal about the boycott of Israel as a means of both exerting international pressure on the Israeli apartheid system, and standing in solidarity with the resistant Palestinian people.

Full Statement can be found here.

Amicable End To Occupation

I think I had better post that our occupation came to an end at approximately 5pm on Friday afternoon. This means our occupation lasted approximately 27 hours. Sorry for not posting sooner, after a discussion with fellow brothers and sisters we will provide more details of our occupation and how it reached an end asap. I am astonished by the amount of support we have received over the internet, it was truly spirit lifting and I appeal to all who can to send messages of support to all universities taking action.

Viva, Palestina!

Management Restricting Access to Geoffrey Manton Building

The Management's policy of refusing to allow staff and students into the building without identification cards has lead to massive distruption to the student's schedule and great inconvenience. This is against the wishes of students in the, 'Free Gaza Lecture Theatre'. We demand that the management end this practice and ask that all students that agree with this stance join us.

The Vice Chancellor's Response!

At 9AM this morning, the students occupying the Freedom Theatre were greeted by Vice Chancellor John Brookes and the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Ann Holmes. Brookes entered the occupied lecture theatre with a smile on his face and helped himself to a cup of our tea. We began to film the meeting, but Brookes demanded that we could only film if he was also permitted to film each and every one of us and record our names. We refused. Brookes, clearly aware that the occupying students were from Manchester University and Salford University as well as Man Met, responded that he would have been "happy" with the occupation going ahead and "willing to support our objectives" if only we were comprised solely of Man Met students. This is clearly a lie, designed to make our Vice Chancellor look gracious and understanding, without obliging him to look at our demands or speak with us honestly.

Brookes argued that the occupation had been "Socialist Worker gatecrashed"; this is an attempt to undermine our protest, which has been supported by a wide range of groups and plenty of non-aligned students, as well as staff members and prominent trade unionists from UCU and UNISON.

One thing that came across from the meeting, was that Brookes, was clearly on the defense, claiming that we were not a peaceful demonstration, unlike the "other occupations" that have been taking place across the country. He would have no "difficulty with students of this university [Man Met] having a friendly occupation and making a political statement". We doubt this immensely.

This is what the occupiers of the Freedom Theatre have to say in response to Vice Chancellor Brookes: university students from across Greater Manchester have joined with the students of Manchester Metropolitan, to stand together in support of their struggle and in solidarity with the people of Gaza. The purpose of an occupation is not to accept half-baked terms proposed by a Vice Chancellor unwilling to listen. We will not give in and nor will we allow Manchester Met students to be victimised for their role in the occupation. This is our space. We determine the rules, who may enter and what they may do. John Brookes must be aware that the students from other occupations, LSE and Oxford for instance, have won their demands. We shall do the same.

Morning Food Aid

The food blockade by MMU security was brought to an end by staff that are supporting the occupation. Biscuits, Fruit, Coffee and tea has been delivered.

MMU Management has put checkpoints in the building and possibly in others, they are checking student I.D. cards and trying to keep out any supporters. The security guards are organised by GMB who we are calling upon to support us and advise their members not to allow a second night without food and water.

MMU Students, email your vice-chancellor at j.anderson@mmu.ac.uk and put pressure on him by emailing him a copy of our demands which can be found below:

1) Issue a public statement condemning Israel's attack on Palestinian educational institutions, including the bombing of the Islamic University of Gaza, and encourage your colleagues in the other Universities to issue a similar call.

2) Establish an emergency fund for Palestinians students from Gaza and waive their tuition fees to support their efforts to acquire an education.

3) Waive all application & tuition fees from students coming from Palestine and create scholarships specifically available for Palestinian students.

4) To build links with Palestinian universities.

5) Divest MMU funds from all firms contributing to the Israeli war effort.

6) To create a proper memorial to Tom Hurndall, a MMU student murdered by the Israeli Occupation forces in Gaza.

7) To sever all academic links with Israeli institutions that don’t oppose the continued occupation of Palestine.

8) That the Students’ Union should allow political posters to be displayed on its windows/noticeboards/walls.

9) That no military recruiters should be allowed on campus.

10) That the University should boycott Coca-Cola and stop the sale of it in all its outlets.

11) That there should be no repercussions for anyone involved in the occupation of MMU buildings.

A Stroke of Luck

At around 1:30 am the water dispensers and drink vending machines were turned on... apparently they have been having problems with them :p

Programme for day 2... and a little update.

Programme for Friday the 23rd of January -

11:45am Geoff Brown - Secretary of Manchester Trades Council fresh from Beirtut Conference... Joining platform with Dr Aziz - Vocal Muslim Association of Britian member.

4:10pm Peace, Propaganda and The Promised Land (Film Showing)

As well as the possibility of an eyewitness account from one of our own students who has recently been in Gaza with the International Solidarity Movement.

We've spent the evening discussing the plan for tomorrow, and have sent an e-mail to the VC, as well as contacting the press about our occupation.

The University management have relocated the lectures scheduled to take place tomorrow in Lecture Theatre 7. We'd like to say that this was not our decision, and it is not our intention to disrupt anyone's right to education.

We're very grateful to everyone who has tried to get food to us, as well as the many, many messages of support we have received. Big thanks should also go to Unison who have tried so hard to negotiate with the staff here at MMU on our behalf.

Settling down for the night now.

Night 1

19 of us have decided to stay the night. The management have locked down the building and refuse to let food enter the building. Students and staff will only be allowed to enter if they have carrying their ID. However the mood is still jubilant, happy listening to some drum and bass... currently organising activities for tomorrow.

Next update will be tomorrow's programme.

The Siege Is Broken!

The occupation nearly came to a premature end tonight, when security began locking out protestors and imposing a seige on those still inside. But we stood our ground and got back inside - our occupation is now bigger than ever, and we are enjoying a political meeting with Mark Krantz from Manchester Stop The War.

MMU Students begin Occupation in solidarity with Gaza!

MMU Students are currently in occupation of the Geoffrey Manton building. We are occupying the building in solidarity with the people of Gaza and to stand up to imperialism in the Middle East. We have issued the following set of demands to the Vice-Chancellor because we believe in delivering concrete solidarity for the people of Palestine.

Demands of MMU students in occupation in solidarity with Gaza.

1) Issue a public statement condemning Israel's attack on Palestinian educational institutions, including the bombing of the Islamic University of Gaza, and encourage your colleagues in the other Universities to issue a similar call.

2) Establish an emergency fund for Palestinians students from Gaza and waive their tuition fees to support their efforts to acquire an education.

3) Waive all application & tuition fees from students coming from Palestine and create scholarships specifically available for Palestinian students.

4) To build links with Palestinian universities.

5) Divest MMU funds from all firms contributing to the Israeli war effort.

6) To create a proper memorial to Tom Hurndall, a MMU student murdered by the Israeli Occupation forces in Gaza.

7) To sever all academic links with Israeli institutions that don’t oppose the continued occupation of Palestine.

8) That the Students’ Union should allow political posters to be displayed on its windows/noticeboards/walls.

9) That no military recruiters should be allowed on campus.

10) That the University should boycott Coca-Cola and stop the sale of it in all its outlets.

11) That there should be no repercussions for anyone involved in the occupation of MMU buildings.

If agree with solidarity with Gaza and that is the duty of people in Britain and our academic institutions to speak out against invasions, massacres and genocide then join us in our liberated space in Geoffrey Manton.

As agreed on 22/01/2009.