Glasgow University just got a wake-up call over its complicity with Israel

Two Youth Demand supporters sprayed paint over a University of Glasgow building to demand the UK government impose a complete trade embargo on Israel, including on arms sales.

University of Glasgow: complicit in Israel’s genocide

At around 9:50am on Thursday 6 February, Hannah Taylor and Catriona Roberts used fire extinguishers to spray the James McCune Smith Learning Hub in red paint:

The pair then glued onto the front of the building:

One of those who took action is Hannah Taylor, a maths masters student and hospitality employee from Glasgow, who said:

I was forced into action today because Glasgow University has blatantly ignored the will of the majority of its students and staff, and insisted on continuing to invest in Israeli linked arms research. I’m enraged that I’ve been forced into complicity with the killing and maiming of Palestinian children, both by my university and by my government. As students we demand an immediate trade embargo including all arms. If you too are sick of standing by and watching a genocide be legitimised and enabled go to youthdemand.org and take action now.

Catriona Roberts, who is also a student from Glasgow, said:

The Palestinian people are still under siege. No ceasefire will wash away the blame from our genocidal government. We demand our government stops arming the Israeli state and imposes a full trade embargo. Our institutions follow the lead of our government, who continue to trade and send arms to Israel, a state guilty of genocide. We refuse to be made complicit in the mutilation of children. Please take a stand, join us in April and go to youthdemand.org.

In November, the University of Glasgow refused to prohibit its endowment fund managers from investing in companies that earn more than 10% of their income from arms manufacturing.

The University of Glasgow has £6.8 million worth of shareholdings in arms companies such as BAE systems and QinetiQ. They have also received around £600,000 in research funding from BAE systems and Rolls Royce since 2017. QinetiQ, a supplier of military robotics, has been criticised for their active export of arms to Israel and involvement in the British Army Watchkeeper Programme which allegedly tested the drones on Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

This is despite overwhelming opposition from both student groups and staff. A survey of 2,400 staff and students at the university found that 81% of staff and 84% of students were in favour of divestment.

Join Youth Demand on the streets of London every day in April by signing up at youthdemand.org

Featured image and video supplied