On 14th May, students filtered out of the New Law Building protesting the University of Sydney’s (USyd) ties to Israel, and the Universities Australia definition of antisemitism. This follows all five motions at the Student General Meeting (SGM) passing with an overwhelming majority.
Students held up banners that read ‘Free Palestine’, ‘Queers for Palestine’, and ‘Anti-Zionism [does not equal] Anti-Semitism’. Making their way to the F23 Building, protesters chanted “Israel out of West Bank, Israel out of Gaza” before crowding around the entrance of F23. Students and staff held up their banners and signs as Vieve Carnsew introduced the first speaker.
Postgraduate student Jeanette Monteiro spoke to the ties that USyd has to all Israeli institutions — like Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel Institute of Technology — as well as weapons manufacturers, specifically noting Thales and Lockheed Martin.
“We are here at management’s doorsteps. We are standing here united, and we are standing here loud, taking the message of that [SGM] straight to Mark Scott’s office. Over 200 of us have just collectively demanded that USyd drop its sham of a definition of anti-semitism, and end its repression of our campaign for Palestine.”
“We will not be silenced by the anti-semitism definition. We will not be threatened or intimidated by their anti-protest Campus Access Policy. USyd wants to treat us students as criminals for advocating for a free Palestine.”
“Israel has murdered over 2,000 Palestinians after breaking the ceasefire, and right now, Netanyahu’s cabinet is preparing a full-scale offensive to completely wipe out Gaza, sending 10,000 soldiers to drop bombs on Palestinian families to demolish even more homes, and even more hospitals.”
Monteiro finishes her speech stating “It is clear that no amount of blood shed would make Mark Scott cut these ties and stop backing the Israeli terror state.”
Carnsew led the chants “USyd you can’t hide, you’re supporting genocide”. NTEU Sydney University branch committee member Matte was then introduced as the second speaker of the rally.
Matte said: “There’s been a big atmosphere of repression, and attacks on freedom of speech.”
“We know that it’s hard for you at the moment, but this makes it so much easier. Students have spoken. The staff have spoken too.”
“[NTEU are] for BDS. We’re for Israel off campus. We’re for the IDF off campus. I work in the school of languages and cultures. I’ve been there and I know my department wants to reinstate the ‘Experience Israel OLE’ unit. The claim is that it’s “still safe” in Israel.”
“We know that it’s not safe. It’s not safe for Palestinians. It’s an apartheid state. We simply cannot allow students to go to Israel until it’s one democratic state with equal votes for all”
Closing the rally, Carnsew noted the importance of unwavering work to build the pro-Palestine motion further to hold the university and government to account.
“Sydney Uni still has exchange programs with universities in Israel. There is still research being done for drone technology that is being used to carry out attacks on Gaza right now.”
“I’m going to end [the rally] with a chant that the University and Albanese have tried to ban us from chanting: From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. From the sea to the river, Palestine will live forever.”
Follow @studentsagainstwar_ for future updates on organising and protests.
