The peaceful protestors were served an eviction notice and now a court order has been sought out by the university
Cardiff University has sought a court order against a peaceful protest group after the school claims they caused “disruption and distress”. Protestors have been calling for the university to end its “complicity in the genocide happening in Palestine.”
The Caerdydd Students for Palestine first set up the encampment calling for peace in Palestine outside the main university building in May 2024. They returned last month but have now been forced to leave after an eviction notice was served by the university.
Over the past year students and members of the community have camped on Horseshoe Drive outside of the main building of Cardiff University, arranging peaceful protests, pickets, community days and delivering demands to the university to “stand against the violence taking place in Palestine”.
A spokesperson for Cardiff University said that Caerdydd Students for Palestine did not gain consent from the institution to use the space to protest, raising “a number of safety, well-being, and safeguarding issues.”
They said that “while the encampment has been relatively peaceful, there have been a number of unacceptable incidents.” The incidents were not detailed to WalesOnline.
They also said: “In addition to occupying Horseshoe Drive without consent, members of the encampment have blocked both entrances to Main Building, preventing staff and students from work, study and preparation for exams. Occupied rooms in our Glamorgan Building, and accessed the roof.
“The encampment also continued to invite people from outside our community – without University consent – to join them for events.”
On May 7, Cardiff University closed its Glamorgan Building after the group rallied outside, chanting “free Palestine.” At the time of the protest Cardiff University said it “must support the right to take part in lawful, peaceful and respectful protest.”
A Cardiff University spokesperson said: “These incidents have had an adverse impact on University activities – including research, teaching, and learning – and have caused disruption and distress to members of our University community.
“The safety, security, and well-being of everyone at our University remains our primary concern. We have a duty to ensure that all staff and students can live, work, and study without fear or distress.”
As a result, the university issued the encampment a Notice to Vacate the premises on Friday, May 16, but the deadline was not abided by and the camp remained in place.
On May 28, students from Caerdydd Students for Palestine picketed outside the entrances to the Main Building of the university.
Reports of a protest involving around 30 protestors on Park Place, Cardiff were made to South Wales Police who deployed to “facilitate a peaceful protest, to ensure public safety and minimise any disruption to the wider community.”
A spokesperson for the force said: “It was a peaceful protest which required no further intervention.”
With protestors still stationed at the university, Cardiff University claim they were left with little option other than to seek an order for possession and an order for precautionary injunctive relief from the Court, which if granted would allow the university to secure the campus and no longer allow the protestors.
Cardiff University has sought an order for the possession of the Main Building, Glamorgan Building, Bute Building and Centre for Student Life.
They are also seeking an order for the precautionary injunctive relief, to prevent any future action, at the Main Building including Horseshoe Drive, Glamorgan Building, Bute Building including the car parking area located between Bute Building and Glamorgan Building, Centre for Student Life, 50-51 Park Place, Sir Martin Evans Building, Music Building, Law Building, Tower Building, Abacws, Trevithick Building, Queen’s Buildings, and SPARK Building.
A Cardiff University spokesperson said: “This was not a decision we took lightly. However, this action is necessary to bring an end to the ongoing disruption.
“We appreciate that some may disagree with this action and it could be interpreted as curtailing the right to protest and freedom of speech, but this is not the case.
“This decision is about ensuring the safety of everyone in our University community – including those within the encampment itself – and is similar action to that taken by other universities who have experienced unauthorised encampments.”
Students and members of the community supporting Palestine and protesting in Cardiff have show their anger towards Cardiff University after the decision was made.
Whilst Caerdydd Students for Palestine said: “Cardiff University would rather violently repress its students than speak to us. Whilst we are outraged by this, we must remember the privilege of having a campus to protest on at all.
“There are no universities left in Gaza. Although we have decamped, we want to be clear that this is not the end of us. We will keep fighting until we see a free Palestine.”
Continuing on their social media, they wrote: “Thank you all across Cardiff and beyond for your support of our second student encampment. This is by no means the end but rather just one more step towards getting the uni to DISAFILLIATE from the genocide, to SUPPORT students from Cardiff to Gaza.”
