London Students Honor Late Palestinian Journalist in Pro-Gaza Rally
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Goldsmiths University of London honored the memory of the Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces in May 2022.
The student protesters have achieved significant victories in their Gaza solidarity activism, spanning six months, which has led to notable concessions from the university's administration, including the establishment of Palestinian scholarships and the renaming of a lecture theatre in memory of Shireen Abu Akleh, the slain Al Jazeera journalist.
Samira Ali, a leading organizer of the student protests at Goldsmiths, revealed that their activism, characterized by protests, walkouts, and occupations, has garnered tangible results in their ongoing campaign for solidarity with Gaza. "It's involved protests and walkouts, actions which have included occupations," Ali told Al Jazeera.
Currently, the students are occupying the university library as part of their protest actions.
Ali highlighted one of the most significant achievements of their protests: the establishment of Palestinian scholarships by the university. "We have won that it is going to be renamed after Shireen Abu Akleh," she stated.
"To have that recognition of a Palestinian journalist that was murdered (by the Israeli military) and have that memorialized at this university will be amazing and something we are really proud of," she added.
The newly established scholarships will include two additional opportunities for Palestinian students, one of which will be an undergraduate scholarship. Ali emphasized the importance of such initiatives in light of the severe damage inflicted upon educational infrastructure in Gaza. The renaming of the lecture theatre after Shireen Abu Akleh stands as a testament to the students' commitment to honoring Palestinian voices and advocating for justice in the face of adversity.
Anti-war demonstrations ceased this week at a small number of US universities after school leaders struck deals with pro-Palestinian protesters, fending off possible disruptions of final exams and graduation ceremonies.
The agreements at schools including Brown, Northwestern and Rutgers stand out amid the chaotic scenes and 2,400-plus arrests on 46 campuses nationwide since April 17. Tent encampments and building takeovers have disrupted classes at some schools, including Columbia and UCLA.
Deals included commitments by universities to review their investments in Israel or hear calls to stop doing business with the longtime US ally. Many protester demands have zeroed in on links to the Israeli military as the genocidal war grinds on in Gaza.
