King’s College London (KCL) pro-Palestine student activists organised an ’emergency protest’ following a visit of representatives from the Israeli Embassy at Strand Campus on 11 December. Roar observed at least one arrest during the protest, amid reports of violence.
Following an Instagram post by KCL Stands for Justice (KCL S4J) announcing an emergency protest titled “Zionist Entity Off Our Campus”, demonstrators gathered from 5pm on Thursday evening, outside the Strand Building, alongside a significant turnout of pro-Israel counter-protesters.
The demonstration followed a presentation from the Israel Embassy at Strand Campus the same evening. A significant presence of King’s security staff and police was maintained throughout the protest.
One pro-Palestine demonstrator argued that the “protest here today is happening because KCL continues to have shares into Israeli companies that directly produce ammunitions and white phosphorus,” identified in a recent Roar investigation as a potential breach of the University’s Ethical Investment Policy.
A spokesperson for KCL S4J claimed that “During this protest, we were met by over 30 masked violent Zionist agitators, all of whom were much older than the students and some of whom were visibly intoxicated.”
Spectators were also confused at the demographics of the counter-demonstration. One said, “It’s quite confusing […] Palestinian supporters look like students but Israeli supporters look like adults.”.
Roar observed verbal confrontations between pro-Israel counter-protesters and pro-Palestine demonstrators. Pro-Israel counter-protesters were heard chanting slogans including “Long live the IDF” and “From the sea to the river, Israel will live forever”. One counter-protester shouted, “All you f*cking b*stards shouting for Intifada, you f*cking c*nts.”
A spokesperson for KCL S4J told Roar, “Zionist protesters repeatedly called [pro-Palestine] protesters ‘terrorists’, used racist and vulgar language, and made threats of violence.”
Roar observed counter-protesters using the term ‘terrorist’ and heard abusive language directed at pro-Palestinian demonstrators.
Pro-Palestine protesters responded with chants such as “Long live intifada”, “Intifada forever”, and “F*ck Israel”.
Some organisations consider the term ‘intifada’ to be antisemitic. The American Jewish Committee (AJC), a prominent Jewish civil rights group, asserts that its “indiscriminate use encourages targeting institutions, and individuals around the world who show support for Israel, which includes the majority of Jews.”
However, many left-wing and pro-Palestine groups dispute the assertion that the use of the term is antisemitic. Palestinian-American journalist Daoud Kuttab argues that the meaning of the word has been “distorted”.
He continued, “As someone who reported on the Intifada and explained its meaning to international audiences, I can say unequivocally: Intifada was used by Palestinian activists to describe a civil resistance movement rooted in dignity and national self-determination.”
In addition to the heckling, protesters were at times violent towards each other. One pro-Israel counter-protester was seen jumping off a ledge into the crowd of demonstrators below, after a pro-Palestine protester grabbed an Israeli flag.
A spokesperson for KCL S4J asserted, “Throughout the demonstration, protesters were pushed, shoved, spat on, hit with flagpoles, had their legs pulled to make them fall, and one student was kicked in the face. […] One student suffered injuries to their index finger and experienced ringing in their ears.”
One spectator of the protest told Roar they had “expressed concern to the police and staff about separating people [because] it looks like it is going to get tense.”.
A spokesperson for KCL S4J told Roar despite the fact that “Multiple students reported injuries […] Both KCL security and the police were understaffed, slow to act, and largely failed to separate the hostile groups.”
Roar observed both police and security monitoring the proximity of the protest, but no action was taken until late in the protest when physical confrontation escalated.
However, arrests were made by the police, including one man who was allegedly carrying a knife at the scene.
As the protest dispersed, one pro-Israel counter-protester told pro-Palestine protesters, “Run, you dogs,” as students gathered inside Strand Campus at around 6pm.
Thereafter, police were seen taping off the area and remained on campus until late in the evening.
Roar observed and requested comment from members of the pro-Israel counter-protest, both during and after the demonstration, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
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