BY LEEDS PSC (LEEDS PALESTINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN)
MPACUK The students of University of Manchester only had a little more than 36 hours to prepare for the coming of the self invited Israeli Ambassador, Ron Prosor. Understandably, considering the University didn’t release any notice of the visit until two days before his coming.
The event, chaired by the President and the Vice-Chancellor, Nancy Rothwell, was on the topic of “Shifting Paradigms: Evolving Regional Dynamics in the Middle East.” It was obvious it was kept very quiet and deliberately so.
Action Palestine, with some representation from Manchester ISOC helped to develop a plan of action the evening before. The next morning they were out on the Campus’ main road and it started well. The activists were ambient, hopeful and upbeat despite the cold. A stall outside raised publicity about the unwanted visit, educating students on the credentials of the Ambassador.
When the time came they moved to the entrance of the venue and started chanting the familiar pro-Palestinian signatures of the ever growing global intifada. Naturally, there was no sign of the Ambassador, but hearing that he was there and starting his talk, their voices and chants grew louder and louder. The leaflets they were continuing to give out, helped in their efforts, as their numbers were given a bolster.
Two Action Palestine activists who attended the event, reported that the event received a small audience of just 35. It seems the Ambassador’s visit was a bit of a flop. In contrast, Action Palestine received a lot of publicity from their pro-Palestine activity and in turn raised the issue of the Palestinian plight at the hands of Israeli oppression to hundreds of students and university staff. The message was loud and clear, the Vice Chancellor should think twice before she allows war criminals to visit her university.
Many Muslims and non-Muslims make up Action Palestine and this reflects how the Palestinian issue is a humanitarian issue and not a religious one, much to the dismay of the Zionists on campus. Even after being called extremists by their Zionist counterparts, they still stood strong at every chance to defend the Palestinian cause on campus, in a pro-active way and they have come up on top. A good lesson for the rest of us, who may be easily scared by such tactical labelling.
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