Police Order Pro-Hamas Protestors To Leave By Midday Today
Students at the Australian National University (ANU) protesting in support of Hamas governed Palestine have been given a deadline of midday today to leave their encampment or face potential police action.
The encampment, situated in the Kambri precinct of the university, has been in place for nearly a month to show solidarity with the people of Gaza amidst Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas.
This morning, ANU security guards, along with police negotiators, informed the protesters that they needed to relocate to another part of the campus due to safety concerns. Officers warned that failure to comply by the given deadline could result in arrests.
In response, the students are currently deliberating their next steps. Earlier today, the protest saw heightened activity with around 60 people gathering in the camp’s centre, some using megaphones to chant, while others, including ACT Greens politicians, formed a human barrier around the encampment’s perimeter.
The university cited a fire evacuation last week that exposed “serious safety concerns” as the reason for the immediate eviction. Protesters claimed they were awakened at 8am by security guards and handed an eviction notice.
ANU’s deputy vice-chancellor, Grady Venville, elaborated that an emergency fire evacuation of Fenner Hall, housing 400 students, revealed failed alternative assembly points, prompting immediate action due to the “intolerable safety risk.”
Despite these warnings, the students decided to stay on campus for the day. In a statement, they declared their intention to continue their “peaceful demonstration” and protect their right to free speech.
The protestors rejected the university’s threats as “baseless” and asserted their commitment to the sit-in around the main gazebo area of the encampment.
The notice from the ANU detailed the “immediate and non-negotiable directive” for protesters to vacate and remove all tents and structures. Jeremy Matthews, the university’s director of facilities and services, cited the disruptive fire evacuation on May 21 as a critical factor in the decision.
Deputy vice-chancellor Venville stated that the university has engaged with the protesters, inviting them to meet with the vice-chancellor to discuss alternative protest methods.
She expressed hope that forceful removal would not be necessary but affirmed that the university is prepared to work with ACT police to ensure compliance.
The ANU officially ordered seven students to leave the encampment after identifying them as residents ten days ago, which led to a rally of about 250 students supporting the protesters and demanding the university divest from companies linked to the Israeli military.
The university is also investigating allegations of threatening behaviour towards Jewish students on campus, including an alleged Nazi salute.
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