Students from several Spanish universities have begun to join the international protests in support of Palestine that started weeks ago in USA and that have been spreading to other countries.
Although in recent hours accessions by student unions in Barcelona, Basque Country, Navarra, Sevilla, Alicante y Madridit was in the University of Valencia (UV) where the mobilization began on April 29 to demand “the end of the genocide in Gaza”.
A week later, about twenty tents remain installed at the entrance to the Faculty of Philosophy of the UV.
The student spokespersons say they are willing to maintain the camp until the rector agrees to meet with them and address their demands.
After Valencia, Barcelona, Vitoria, San Sebastián…
After the initiative of the Valencian university students, protests have taken place on other campuses such as the University of Barcelonawhere dozens of students remain camped in the Historical Building of the UB.
They will remain there, at least, until the cloister celebration called for this Wednesday.
Since Monday, camping has been underway on the campuses of Vitoria, Saint Sebastian y Leia (Bizkaia) from Basque Public Universityas well as in the Public University of Navarra in Pamplona.
Students from several Madrid universities, gathered in an assembly called by the Interuniversity Block for Palestinehave decided this Tuesday to join the protests and start an indefinite camp on the campus of the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM).
Also in Alicantewhere some acts of support have already been carried out Palestine In recent days, another camping trip is scheduled for this Wednesday in the University of Alicante.
They call for breaking institutional relations with the Israeli government, companies and universities.
What the university students are asking for in the protests
With slogans very similar to those of their #StudentsforGaza colleagues in the rest of the world, “Palestine free!” or “Stop the genocide!”, the Spanish university students who are mobilizing demand that their respective universities break all collaboration, agreements or conventions with Israeli companies and university centers.
In addition, they call for an end to the sale of weapons to Israel and that the Government breaks relations with that country.
In many of the concentrations, solidarity is also expressed with the students arrested in the protests, especially in USAand, on a strictly domestic level, the repeal of the gag law and the Immigration Law.
For the moment, the camps and rallies are taking place peacefully in Spanish universities.
A spokesperson for the University Network by Palestinewith a presence on more than 40 campuses and made up of professors and non-teaching staff, supports the protests of student organizations against the genocide in Palestine and respect their autonomy.
Differences with the Russia-Ukraine war
A few days ago, the Red raised its demands to the rectorates and the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities: a clear condemnation against the destruction of universities in Gaza and a ceasefire.
In addition, provision of economic resources to receive and protect students and academic staff of Palestine; avoid cooperation with Israeli universities and the breaking of diplomatic relations between both countries.
On the other hand, this spokesperson has stated that “a process of brutal criminalization against the student movement is already underway, once again shamefully using the concept of anti-Semitism, accusing them of being anti-Semitic, when what they are moving for is more than 40,000 deaths. ”.
It has also drawn attention to the different response that the conflicts of Ukraine y Palestine.
In the first case, the then ministries of Science and Innovation and Universities announced measures to suspend scientific, academic and institutional collaboration relations with Russia y Belarus.
The decision was made two weeks after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and in solidarity with the Ukrainian people.
The support of the Minister of Science
The Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morantshowed this Tuesday his pride in the students who have begun to mobilize in solidarity with Palestine.
At the press conference after the Council of Ministers, Morant has recognized the right of students to demonstrate and has added that universities are not only a space for academic training, but also for critical thinking. EFE
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