Contact details for the occupation
Visit their website to get all the details of the occupation.
Visit their facebook page
Contact the occupiers:
Email: supporttheoccupation@gmail.com
Email: manuni@actionpalestine.org
Tel: Katan at 07917206282 or 01612 758007
Contact details for the university
Please be polite when contacting university administrations.
Vice Chancellor Alan Gilbert
Email: president@manchester.ac.uk
Tel: 0161 306 6010
Occupation
Started - 4th February 2009
Ended - 6th March 2009
Where - The John Owen Building (4th-6th February) and central sorting office (5th-6th February) - later moved to the Simon building (6th February - 6th March)
Why - In solidarity with the people of Gaza
Demands
1) University of Manchester should issue a formal statement condemning Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip, acknowledging particularly the effects on educational institutions such as the bombing of the Gaza Islamic University and expressing concern about war crimes allegations.
2) Support a day of fundraising across campus with the proceeds going to the DEC Gaza appeal.
3) University to publicise DEC advert in any way possible (including banner on the website) and put pressure on the BBC and sky to show the DEC advert.
4) All furniture & surplus supplies from buildings that are being renovated to be sent to Gaza on the Viva Palestina convoy.
5) Join the BDS movement through stopping sales of Israeli goods on university premises, the University should also stop buying any campus supplies from Israeli companies.
6) That the university divests from all companies directly involved in the manufacture of weaponry. We also demand that the university takes the issue of transparency in their investment seriously.
7) That the university publicly supports its students’ right to protest, such as occupations. That in line with this, the university will provide its facilities for a “Students for Palestine” conference, second week of April 09.
8 ) To send a public message of solidarity to the Islamic University in Gaza, whose campus has been virtually destroyed, and publish it on the university website and distribute it to the university wide e-mail addresses.
9) To give at lease five scholarships for Palestinian students as well as providing at least five scholarships for Israelis who refuse to serve in the IDF.
10) That the university make a module on the history of Palestine available as an optional module for any University of Manchester student.
11) That home fees apply to Palestinians students wanting to study at the University of Manchester.
12) No victimisation for those taking part in the Occupation, and free movement in and out of the occupied spaced.
1) University of Manchester should issue a formal statement condemning Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip, acknowledging particularly the effect on educational institutions such as the bombing of the Gaza Islamic University and expressing concern about war crimes allegations.
2) Support a day of fundraising proceeds to DEC
3) All furniture & surplus supplies from building that are being renovated to be sent to Gaza on the Viva Palestina convey ….
4) Stop selling Israeli good on university premises
5) That the university divests from all companies involved at all in the arms trade & end all research with these companies on campus
6) University to publicise DEC advert in any way possible (including banner on the website) and put pressure on the BBC and sky to show the DEC advert.
Negotiation
6th March 2009
- Occupiers ended the occupation after gaining an agreement that VC Gilbert would enter into negotiations with them.
5th March 2009
- The occupiers send a letter to the VC - they refuse to leave unless he agrees to enter into negotiations with them.
- The occupiers decide to stay. ‘Security started moving em mass toward the building initially stating that they would film students once they would moved out of the building. In response, the 50 or so students who gathered, began to mask themselves with keffiyahs and flags however, after negotiating with the security guards, they (security guards) decided to defy the University admin’s demand to film and gave a good faith agreement not to’.
- At 16.15 the occupiers receive a letter from the VC issuing a 5pm ultimatum to leave. The VC accuse the occupiers of ‘misconduct’, he threatens ‘punitive measures’ if the occupiers do not leave by the stated time. He claims that he is ’still committed to negotiations should the students leave, with the executive and occupation representatives’, but the occupiers are doubtful as to date he has so far ‘failed to give any good faith acceptance to negotiations either changing the time or not assenting to the occupations reasonable demands’. The occupiers meet to discuss whether they should leave.
21st February 2009
- VC Gilbert offers occupiers a 15 minute presentation of explaining their demands providing they end the occupation. This would be followed by dialogue with the Student Union Executive. The occupiers refuse to leave unless they have a commitment from the VC that he will engage in ’serious negotiations’.
20th February 2009
13th February 2009
- VC Gilbert sends another letter to the occupiers but still refuses to negotiate.
11th February 2099
10th February 2009
- VC Gilbert send the occupiers a letter. In which he says:
I will not engage in discussions with any advocate of matters related to a protest about substantive issues or demands being made by or on behalf of protestors, as long as any protestors remain inside University premises.
9th February 2009
- VC Gilbert refuses to address the demands of the occupation.
8th February 2009
6th February 2009
- Occupiers send an Open Letter to Vice Chancellor Gilbert
- Students are threatened with disciplinary action and move to the Simon Building to avoid this
- The Vice Chancellor asks the occupiers to leave, security guards remove at least 5 students and the students respond by occupying the post room as well.
- VC meets with students but refuses to negotiate while they are occupying The University management restrictes access to the John Owens building, preventing food and supplies from being delivered to the protesters. They also shut down the Student Services Centre to prevent food getting to the protestors.
4th February 2009
Student Union
11th February 2009
The Student Union passes a significant motion condemning Israel’s action and initialing a boycott as well as supporting the student occupation.
4th February 2009
Over 500 students attended an emergency general meeting of the students union to discuss a motion on the issue of the crisis in Gaza. Due to supporters of recent Israeli actions the meeting was dissolved and the students then marched to the administration building and occupied it.
Support
5th March 2009
Melbourne university send their support
11th February 2009
Lowkey attends the rally to support the occupiers
Noam Chomsky sends a message of support
10th February 2009
The Islamic University Of Gaza sends a message of support to Manchester occupiers
8th February 2009
Students at An-Najah university in Palestine set up a facebook page to support Manchester occupation
UCU writes a letter supporting UK student occupations
7th February 2009
The Student Council of An-Najah university in Palestine sends a letter of support to the Manchester occupation.
6th February 2009
Goldsmiths Student Union sends a message of support to occupiers at Manchester
Protest
4th March 2009
2pm - the occupiers hold a national rally outside the Student Union. They advertised the protest way in advance. Their VC seemed eager to stop the protest but failed to give them assurances of negogations they were happy to accept. Over 200 people attended it.
11th February 2009
There was a large rally of about 200 people - the protesters then marched to the Student Union to vote on the motion condemning Israel’s actions and supporting the occupation
7th February 2009
At 2pm around 60 people from around Manchester and beyond came to a protest outside the occupied Simon Building
5th February 2009
Occupiers hold a demo as the university threatens to remove them.
