University threatens to call police as pro-Palestine students move in

Pro-Palestinian students have taken over a University of Melbourne building, forcing classes to be cancelled and triggering uni chiefs to threaten that police may be called in.

Students occupy the Arts West Building at the University of Melbourne.

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian students have occupied a University of Melbourne building, forcing classes to be cancelled and triggering a warning from uni chiefs that police may be called in.

Students have taken over the Arts West building, renaming it ‘Mahmoud Hall’ and setting up tents and displaying banners and flags supporting Palestine.

Students were moving chairs and tables from the building to surround the protest group and many of the activists are partially covering their faces with keffiyehs and masks.

Signs that read “University stop supporting genocide! Cut ties with Israel now!” and “Jews say stop arming Israel” are hanging from a staircase railing. Protesters outside have also formed a line outside the building.

Student activists are occupying The University of Melbourne’s Arts West building. @australianpic.twitter.com/9VLWl1f7oT

— Tricia Rivera (@tricialeerivera) May 15, 2024

“This protest activity has been determined to breach university policy and protesters have been asked to vacate the building by 2.30pm,” the university said.

“The university is working with university security and, if required, Victoria Police to ensure the safety and security of all students and staff.”

Police say they are monitoring the protest and will respond if needed.

Dozens of students have taken over the Arts West building, renaming it ‘Mahmoud Hall’.

“Victoria Police is aware of a protest at the University of Melbourne on Wednesday 15 May,” they said in a statement to The Australian.

“Police are monitoring the event and will respond to any public order issues if required.”

The protest group was spilling out onto the outside of the Arts West building, with some people chanting outside the entrance. The words “Mahmoud Hall” have been graffitied outside the building.

A young female speaker spoke to the crowd using a megaphone to relay a message from deputy vice chancellor Pip Nicholson.

She said Ms Nicholson reached out to offer to hold a meeting with the group on Friday.

Members of the crowd shouted “shame!” as the group resumed chanting.

The students were chanting “we are the students, we won’t be silenced, cut the ties now now now.”

Just before 2pm, University of Melbourne for Palestine issued a statement and claimed police had been called on the students.

“Melbourne University has given the students sitting in Mahmoud’s Hall (previously Arts West) one hour to leave the building before they call the police on them!” the group wrote in a statement.

“Pip Nicholson threatened all students with regrettable and serious measures if they do not move.

“This action was taken independently from UM4P’s Nakba rally, the students of Melbourne University have taken it upon themselves to sit in the building as a response to UoM’s refusal to divest.

“UM4P stands in solidarity with these students and we call on the Naarm community to come to Mahmoud’s hall and show support and protect our encampment.”

In a video posted by campus newspaper Farrago, pro-Palestine protesters appear to have set up tents in a building on campus and renamed it “Mahmoud’s Hall”, an apparent reference to how Columbia University students weeks ago took over a campus building and declared it renamed “Hind’s Hall”.

In the video, university deputy vice-chancellor Pip Nicholson addresses the crowd with a loudspeaker.

“I’m asking you to leave in peace,” she said.

“In the event that you are not out of here within an hour – so that would be at 2.30 this afternoon – the university will make decisions that will regrettably and unavoidably escalate the tension.

“I am aware that Unimelb for Palestine is not orchestrating this event, I am aware that this is a spontaneous, collective action. I leave you to resolve your way forward but I want you to understand that the choices you make this afternoon will have serious consequences.”

One student shouts, “is that a threat?” and the crowd yelled out, “shame!”

The nation’s peak Jewish organisation has called for “strong and decisive” action on part of the University of Melbourne, as pro-Palestine students continue to occupy a campus building.

“The time for indulging and appeasing insolent children running amok has passed,” Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said. “If the university can’t ensure the immediate safety and security of all students and staff, the police need to.

“It can’t be that those who want to paralyse our institutions for their own emotional gratification prevail.

“The nation is watching and is expecting strong and decisive action to bring this ridiculous situation to an end.”