University of Melbourne pro-Palestine protest cancels classes for 6500 students, Senator Thorpe backs encampments

Thousands of students are missing out on classes at the University of Melbourne as a pro-Palestine encampment continues its sit-in inside a huge building at the Parkville campus, but Senator Lidia Thorpe backs the disruption. A university spokeswoman said 6500 students did or would miss out on classes on Wednesday and Thursday. A pro-Palestine camp pitched up on April 25 on a large lawn. The university said it was peaceful and could remain as long as demonstrators were not disruptive. Jewish students have spoken out about feeling ostracised on the campus. The situation intensified on Wednesday when demonstrators moved into the large Arts West building. They unfurled a banner and proclaimed the building was now called Mahmoud’s Hall, after a man killed in Gaza who was enrolled at the university. This take over of the building came on May 15, the anniversary of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The date is when Israel declared independence, 750,000 Palestinians were expelled from their homes and tens of thousands of Jewish Holocaust survivors and refugees began moving to the new state of Israel. The University of Melbourne encampment is one of 12 at universities across the country. “Got my keffiyeh on for parliament today! Power to all the students camped out, and everyone that’s been coming to rallies and standing up for justice,” Ms Thorpe posted on X Thursday morning. “Shame on Vic Labor for banning keffiyehs in parliament there. A real gammin lot they are. Free Palestine!” Victorian Greens leader Dr Samantha Ratnam tried to argue this week banning keffiyehs in parliament was hypocritical when other symbols such as pins and jewellery could be construed as political; Speaker Maree Edwards shut down Dr Ratnam. Despite Senator Thorpe’s support for university encampments, the University of Melbourne has said in a statement there was no access to the Arts West building because of “disruption” and “safety issues” caused by protest activity. “Classes will therefore not take place in that building,” the spokesperson said. Images show a barricade of overturned office furniture constructed around tents. “Alternative arrangements will be communicated via subject co-ordinators,” the spokesperson said. “Students with classes scheduled in Arts West are being advised, and are asked to check the Learning Management System (LMS) for updates. “The university is working with campus security to ensure the safety and security of all students and staff.” The protesters could be given trespass notices. The student group Unimelb for Palestine is the main organiser of the demonstration. The group has been demanding the University of Melbourne cut ties with weapons manufacturers. The university has worked with Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon on non-weapons related research, a spokesperson previously told NewsWire, and says all projects comply with ethics, integrity and Defence rules and codes.