The University says it will go to court to force protesters to leave

Oxford University has said it will go to court to force pro-Palestine protesters to leave if they do not vacate its land by July 7.

The protesters set up camp by the Radcliffe Camera in May in addition to a protest also taking place at the Museum of Natural History in the city.

The students said they had set up the encampments “because of the university’s investment and institutional relationships in genocide” amid the conflict in Gaza.

The camp by the Museum of Natural History has since been vacated and replaced by a “memorial garden” which the university has already started dismantling due to “damage” to the lawn.

In an open letter addressed to the Oxford Action for Palestine (OA4P) protesters, a university spokesman said: “I am writing to you by way of an update on key matters, and to ask you formally to vacate university land.

“The university recognises the importance of peaceful protest and the deeply felt concerns of its members about the current situation in Gaza and Israel.

“Through Trinity term largely peaceful protests have been led from the encampments outside the Museum of Natural History and around the Radcliffe Camera.

“However, the forced entry of Wellington Square and the occupation of the Examinations Schools were totally unacceptable.

“The university now gives notice that it intends to close the encampment around the Radcliffe Camera. You are instructed to disband the camps and vacate the land in accordance with the enclosed notice.

“If the camps are not disbanded by midnight, Sunday, July 7, the university will apply to the court for a possession order.

“The university will not pursue disciplinary action against students in respect of their presence on the camps up to July 7.”

An OA4P representative says the incident of interrupting exams was the work of a member unaffiliated with the group.

The university spokesman added: “We have already closed the site outside the Museum of Natural History in the interests of public safety and to prevent damage to the infrastructure beneath the lawn.

“All your plants and trees have been carefully relocated to the Parks nursery. Please contact me to arrange their return within a month, after which they will be used within the University parks or disposed of.”

Responding to the order, an OA4P representative said: “This threat comes days after administration caged in our Solidarity Encampment at the Pitt Rivers Museum and destroyed our Gaza Memorial Garden, desecrated symbolic graves, and removed artwork honouring Palestinian martyrs.

“In the midst of this fencing-in, members of OA4P were threatened with disciplinary action and had limited access to bathroom facilities. Now, the university turns its attention towards our Liberated Zone at the Radcliffe Camera.

“This series of repressive acts from the university mirrors concerning trends of repression across the country.”

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