On Friday 6th Feb, a massive rally took place on the University of Nottingham main campus. Meeting at 2pm on Portland Hill, the rally aimed at expressing solidairty with the victims of the recent conflict and the population of Gaza and to launch an initiative entitled “Books not Bombs” that aims at getting the University of Nottingham to donate educational equipment to children and students living in Gaza.

It was a well attended event, with members of the local community, students and staff came together to urge the University administration to re-focus its connections to the Israel and Palestine conflict.

Earlier this week, the universities response included the violent eviction of an occupation of a lecture room in the Law and Socail Science Building.

 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/421082.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/421103.html

I believe the hope of the rally organisers, is that the University of Nottingham will begin to build academic bridges between itself, and those whose lives and educations have been affected by the ongoing violence in the region. They ask the University to provide academic aid to universities and schools in the Gaza strip, in the form of donating old books, computers or other surplus teaching/administrative/educational resources, and that the shipping of these resources be paid for by the University of Nottingham. In conjunction with this they ask the establishment to instigate a twinning programme with universities in Gaza, in solidarity with their plight.

This rally was an example of the academic freedoms enjoyed within this university, and it is contended that these freedoms should be shared with as many of the affected Gazian’s as possible. In the spirit of this notion students suggested to the the University administration that it grant a minimum of ten fully-funded scholarships to Palestinian students from Gaza University -which was bombed by the Israeli military. This will give students from Gaza the opportunity for the education and academic environment which we enjoy, and which this latest attack and the continuing blockade has denied them.

Speakers again included Alan Simpson MP, for Nottingham South, and Hicham Yezza from Nottingham University (recently wrongly imprisoned under the terrorism laws).


Nottingham University in Solidarity with Gaza
 http://occupationnottingham.wordpress.com

Free Gaza Campaign
 http://www.freegaza.com

Feature: Nottingham Gaza solidarity occupation violently evicted
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2009/02/420975.html

Nottingham Gaza Emergency Protest
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/416449.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/416470.html

Gaza Public Meeting at Bobbers Mill Community Centre
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/418048.html

Nottingham Responds to Gaza Massacre [Feature]
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2009/01/418376.html

Nottingham Gaza Protest 'candle-lit' Vigil
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/419206.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/419227.html

Nottingham Gaza Protest March Through Nottingham to Market Sq
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/419251.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/419272.html

Nottingham University Students Occupation in Solidarity with Gaza
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/420886.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/420907.html

Nottingham University Gaza solidarity occupation violently evicted
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/421082.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/421103.html

Gaza support protest at Nottingham BBC
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/421124.html

Tash's actions 2009
 http://www.flickr.com/photos/tash/sets/72157612428569847

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ALAN LODGE
Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK
Email:  tash@indymedia.org
Member of the National Union of Journalists [No: 014345]
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"It is not enough to curse the darkness.
It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"
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