On April 23rd at 6:30pm, students congregated to spray-paint Palestinian flags, symbols and slogans of Palestinian Liberation on the walls of Sydney University’s Graffiti Tunnel.
The art-making followed a small rally organised by Students For Palestine in front of the Quadrangle. Together, these two events christened the encampment occurring on Tuesday night in solidarity with the student protesters of Columbia University, who are facing police arrests en masse at their sit-ins.
“The graffiti is for a cause that is important right now,” said Jasmine Alrawi, the convenor of Students For Palestine and one of the rally’s main speakers.
“We’re painting slogans and flags for the hundreds of people that walk through the tunnel every day.”
Among the new additions to the tunnel’s palimpsest of years-expired Revue dates are vibrantly-coloured calls to “Occupy 4 Palestine,” as well as “ALBO BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS”, and “From The River To The Sea” — phrases which were written in both Arabic and English by students donning their keffiyehs.
The graffitiing lasted for under two hours, at which time most of the red, white, green, and black spray cans had emptied and the painted walls were tacky to the touch. Many attendees returned to the encampment on the Quad upon completion.
This event marks a return to the activist origins of the tunnel, which has been used as a site of political protest since the University’s inception in 1850.
It was first deemed legally acceptable to “spray paint, write slogans and create street art” in the tunnel during the 1950s, after vehement student opposition to the Vietnam War led to vandalism on campus.
Today, the tunnel – which is rarely busy – offers passing students the opportunity to reflect upon the issues, thoughts, and causes affecting their peers in a largely censor-free space.
The Graffiti Tunnel can be accessed via both Manning and Science Road.
