Overview

The last few weeks have seen the emergence of a new movement across historic Palestine that is resisting Israel’s illegal occupation, colonization and ethnic cleansing. For the first time in recent history, Palestinian activists and trade unions organized a general strike bringing together Palestinians no matter where they are located.

Millions of people all over the world stood with them, taking parts in marches and solidarity actions. Dock workers from Livorno to Durban to Oakland blocked the loading and unloading of ships carrying weapons destined for Israel: “We won’t stain our hands with blood for your wars.” Desmond D’Sa, who helped organize the action in Durban, said South Africans have to help Palestinians by standing up like they did to apartheid. In the UK, members of the Leicester Fire Brigades Union refused to remove protesters at UAV Tactical Systems factory in “support of Palestinian solidarity and the right to protest.” At King’s College London, thousands of students demanded senior management divest from companies complicit in sustaining the Israeli apartheid regime, institute an academic boycott and defend students’ right to protest. KCL UCU passed solidarity motions urging members to review any relationships with Israeli institutions and calling on the UK government to impose trade sanctions and arms embargoes on Israel.

In this meeting, workers and students at King’s will discuss with an extraordinary international panel how to build on present and past experiences of struggle and play a bigger part in the movement for Palestinian liberation.

Speakers:

• Riya Al'Sanah (Who Profits & activist based in Haifa)
• Leanne Mohamad (KCL Students for Justice for Palestine)
• Hicham Safieddine (KCL UCU member)
• Joanne Phillips
• Lowkey (rapper and activist)
• Desmond D’Sa (South Durban Community Environmental Alliance)
• Anne Alexander (Cambridge UCU)

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