Pro-Israel student societies from across London gathered outside Strand Campus yesterday to demonstrate their condemnation of King’s College London (KCL) academic Dr Rana Baker, prompting a counter-demonstration primarily organised by anti-Zionist Jewish student groups, alongside pro-Palestine staff and students.
The protest, organised by King’s Students Supporting Israel (SSI King’s), an unofficial student group, and attended by Stop the Hate, Our Fight, KCL Jewish Society and the controversial far-right group Betar UK, was part of a continued personal campaign against Dr Baker, after a student leaked recordings from her seminars to The Jewish Chronicle and The Jerusalem Post.
The articles asserted that Dr Baker had handed out a Hamas propaganda document titled ‘Our Narrative: Operation Al-Aqsa Flood’ to students for discussion in a seminar last year. The student also asserted that Dr Baker was “almost overtly pro-Hamas”.
Following complaints by the student, KCL launched an investigation into the allegations against Dr Baker. A spokesperson from KCL confirmed that this investigation is ongoing, despite reports that it had been dismissed.
Despite alleged violence on both sides, the Metropolitan Police confirmed that no arrests had been made at the protest.
A spokesperson from SSI KCL explained the thinking behind their campaign against Dr Baker:
“We protested to expose the extremist indoctrination of students – and the growing hostility toward Jewish students as a result. Rana Baker’s actions are indefensible for a member of KCL staff, violating both the law and the university’s own codes of professional conduct. Someone with her record has no place shaping the minds of future generations. KCL must be held accountable, and we await their response to Dr Rana Baker’s hostile activities.”
Many members of the academic staff participated in the counter-demonstration in support of Dr Baker.
A senior academic from the Arts and Humanities Faculty expressed their support for Dr Baker:
“Dr Rana Baker is an exemplary scholar, respected by her peers, loved by her students, and targeted simply because she is a Palestinian from Gaza and because she shows integrity and courage. She is the prime victim in this story, although the Zionist coalition target other staff and students as well.”
A counter-protester, in support of Dr Baker, branded the pro-Israeli protesters from outside the University as “professional agitators”. They continued:
“It is abundantly clear that not only the King’s student body, but other Jewish student societies across London universities (Birkbek, QMUL, UCL and SOAS Jewish student societies were all present) stand in solidarity with the academics targeted by a minority of individuals.”
The protest followed an email sent to King’s students by Senior Vice President Professor Rachel Mills about protesting “in a civil manner”.
The email suggested that the previous week’s protest had “targeted named individuals within our community”, in an apparent reference to previous demonstrations against Dr Baker.
Still, Professor Mills asserted:
“Freedom of speech for students and staff is a fundamental right, and we have and will continue to support the right to protest.”
A senior academic from the Arts and Humanities Faculty criticised the University’s response to the campaign against Dr Baker, stating:
“The College routinely hides behind platitudes like ‘neutrality’ and ‘freedom of speech.’ But its record tells a different story. It is highly receptive to claims of victimisation from Zionist student groups.”
Digital flyers circulated before both yesterday’s protest and previous protests directly reference Dr Baker, with one displaying a red cross over her image.
The flyer for yesterday’s protest was titled “Ban. Rana. Baker.“
Yesterday’s protests began outside the Strand building at 12:30pm and saw a large police presence.
The pro-Israel protesters waved both Israeli flags and the Union Jack, holding placards that read, “Hamas is terrorist“ whilst demanding the release of all hostages and chanting, “Protect your Jewish students.“
The protests also drew many external supporters. One protester sported a Make America Great Again (MAGA) hat, together with an Israeli flag draped over his shoulders.
Led by a group of students standing on the parapet wearing face coverings, the counter-protesters shouted slogans using loud speakers such as “viva, viva, Palestina!” and “Israel is a terror state”.
EDITOR’S NOTE: An incomplete draft was initially published as the completed article due to an administrative error at 16:37. This is the finished article that was intended to be published.
Second-year undergraduate at King’s College London reading Culture, Media and Creative Industries.
