Oxford Action for Palestine (OA4P) is protesting at matriculation today and disrupted a ceremony. A student in subfusc unfurled a flag and made a speech inside the Sheldonian, while members of the group have been handing out Palestinian flags to freshers.
Earlier in the morning, a student unfurled a large flag and walked in front of the ceremony to deliver a speech. According to video footage shared by OA4P, she said: “…Humanitarian crisis in the Middle East, there is a genocide happening right now. You will not use the language of genocide. You will not be honest about that, and you talk to us about truth. It is disingenuous.” Two security officers escorted her outside.
There were no Bod card or ID checks for students entering the Sheldonian.
As thousands of freshers in subfusc walk down Broad Street, OA4P members in keffiyehs are handing out small Palestinian flags to the queue, and occasionally freshers accept. However, once inside the Sheldonian gate a University official is taking away some of the flags, according to video footage shared by OA4P. A student told Cherwell that she was able to take her flag inside by hiding it in her trousers.
The scene echoed similar protests during graduation ceremonies throughout summer.
Cherwell has contacted the University for comments.
