Two Youth Demand supporters sprayed paint over a University of Glasgow building to demand the UK government impose a complete trade embargo on Israel, including on arms sales. [1]
At around 9:50 this morning, Hannah Taylor, 24, and Catriona Roberts, 22, used fire extinguishers to spray the James McCune Smith Learning Hub in red paint.
One of those taking action this morning is Hannah Taylor, a maths masters student and hospitality employee from Glasgow, who said:
“I was forced into action today because Glasgow University has blatantly ignored the will of the majority of its students and staff, and insisted on continuing to invest in Israeli linked arms research. I’m enraged that I’ve been forced into complicity with the killing and maiming of Palestinian children, both by my university and by my government. As students we demand an immediate trade embargo including all arms. If you too are sick of standing by and watching a genocide be legitimised and enabled go to youthdemand.organd take action now.”
Also taking action is Catriona Roberts, who is also a student from Glasgow, who said:
“The Palestinian people are still under siege. No ceasefire will wash away the blame from our genocidal government. We demand our government stops arming the Israeli state and imposes a full trade embargo. Our institutions follow the lead of our government, who continue to trade and send arms to Israel, a state guilty of genocide. We refuse to be made complicit in the mutilation of children. Please take a stand, join us in April and go toyouthdemand.org.”
In November, The University of Glasgow refused to prohibit its endowment fund managers from investing in companies that earn more than 10% of their income from arms manufacturing. The University of Glasgow has £6.8 million worth of shareholdings in arms companies such as BAE systems and QinetiQ. They have also received around £600,000 in research funding from BAE systems and Rolls Royce since 2017. QinetiQ, a supplier of military robotics, has been criticised for their active export of arms to Israel and involvement in the British Army Watchkeeper Programme which allegedly tested the drones on Palestinian civilians in Gaza. [2]
This is despite overwhelming opposition from both student groups and staff. A survey of 2400 staff and students at the university found that 81% of staff and 84% of students were in favour of divestment. [3]
Join Youth Demand on the streets of London every day in April by signing up at youthdemand.org
ENDS
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Notes to Editors
[1] Youth Demand is a youth resistance campaign fighting for an end to genocide, demanding a two-way arms embargo on Israel and an end to all oil and gas projects licensed since 2021. Youth Demand is part of Umbrella and a member of the A22 Network of civil resistance projects.
[2] https://glasgowguardian.co.uk/2023/02/03/university-of-glasgow-increases-investments-in-arms-trade/
