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.
In the afternoon, protestors staged a “die-in” where they lay on the floor, attempting to prevent students entering the theatre to matriculate. Each time the students were directed to enter through a new gate, the protestors moved to block it, causing long queues and crowds outside the Clarendon Building. Matriculants eventually were able to enter, walking past a banner which read “While you read Gaza bleeds”.
The scene echoed similar protests during graduation ceremonies throughout summer.
The University told Cherwell: “Oxford is committed to ensuring that we are an inclusive and welcoming place for all of our community. We are disappointed with OA4P’s attempt to disrupt and spoil the event for our incoming students at two of the 10 matriculation ceremonies today. We are pleased to report that all ceremonies were completed and there was much joy. We would like to congratulate all those students who matriculated, and we extend to them a very warm welcome to Oxford.
The University supports peaceful protest, in line with our commitment to freedom of speech, and provides clear guidance on demonstrations and protests. Actions which disrupt University events are not acceptable. Students in breach of University rules may face disciplinary action, fines or suspension.”
A matriculating DPhil student participating in the disruption said: “I had to say something because why would I be silent in front of someone who is meant to lead our University but is actually friends with terrorists. Our fellow students deserve to know this. The entire central management of this University does not care about my Palestinian and Lebanese friends and alumni or their family in the Levant. If they did, they would end the University’s complicity in the murder of their people. The only explanation is racism. When they look at black and brown skin, they don’t see human value, they see profit from their slaughter.”
