Students for Palestine at La Trobe University in Melbourne are refusing to comply with an order from administrators to disband their encampment.
La Trobe is one of multiple universities around Australia battling with pro-Palestinian activists setting up camps on campus grounds and refusing to leave.
Students at La Trobe are claiming that a request to disband the camp is an attack on freedom of speech.
Rather than disbanding the camp, the students at La Trobe will hold a “free Palestine” protest on May 20 to defend the La Trobe Gaza Camp.
This follows La Trobe issuing a directive to organisers to “disband the encampment” occupying the Melbourne Bundoora campus Agora.
While the university said the protests have been “relatively peaceful” and classes had not been interrupted, the university was concerned about continued encampment activity.
With this in mind, it made the decision in the interests of the “safety, wellbeing, and amenity of all campus users and visitors.”
The university said it is proud of its rich and diverse multicultural and multi-faith community and does not tolerate any form of discrimination or racism, including antisemitism or Islamophobia.
Students Condemn ‘Repression’ of Gaza Solidarity Camp
Students for Palestine La Trobe say their camp was established to demand the university reveal and cut ties with weapons companies associated with Israel.“If the university supports freedom of speech, they should rescind their order to end the camp.”
Multiple Pro-Palestinian Student Activists Defy Orders
Meanwhile, activists at Deakin University also vowed to defy an order from university management to take down their encampment recently.“We are part of a global student movement fighting for the liberation of Palestine. We demand an end to all weapons partnerships at Deakin,” the group said.
This followed Deakin Deputy Vice-Chancellor Kerrie Parker writing to organisers asking for the “immediate dismantling and removal” of the camp.
Ms. Parker said the priority for administrators was to maintain a safe environment at Deakin.
“You are asked to please attend to the immediate dismantling and removal of the current encampment at Morgan’s Walk,” the letter said.
The students claim the university has told them to leave the building within a few minutes before the police are called.
The university’s vice chancellor has directed all students in the Arts West building to leave the university grounds and removal all personal property.
This follows an inspection that found multiple examples of damage inside the building.
In addition, the University of Queensland demanded campers to discontinue their presence on campus amid concerns about students and staff safety.
However, the students refused to leave, despite Chancellor Peter Varghese saying anti-Semitism and other hate speech has no place on the campus
Jewish Community Hold Rally Against Anti-Semitism in Melbourne
Meanwhile, a pro-Israel Never Again is Now rally against antisemitism was held in front of Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne on May 20.Six people were reportedly arrested following clashes between pro-Palestinian protesters and attendees at the Israel Never Again is Now rally in Melbourne. The Epoch Times has contacted Victoria Police for comment.
Federal Shadow Education Minister Sarah Henderson spoke at the rally, noting that antisemitism is “dividing our country,” particularly on university campuses.
“If police can be called to shut down the antisemitic violence and intimidation of protestors at the ALP state conference, why not at our universities?” she posted on X.
“At University of Melbourne, protestors stormed and are now illegally occupying the Arts building—but where is the moral and political courage to call in the police, and restore law and order and a safe campus for everyone? We are a better country than this.”
