University of Galway to host event coinciding with national day of action for Palestine
University of Galway. Photo: Getty
The University of Galway Staff4Palestine and student Palestine Solidarity Society groups will host an event today to mark a nationwide day of action for Palestine.
The event will take place this afternoon, April 17, at 1pm outside the James Hardiman Library.
The event will include music by Artists for Palestine musician Niamh Ní Charra; a procession to the front of the Quad (College green) where there will be poetry and short speeches by staff and students.
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The Palestine Solidarity Society as well as University of Galway Staff4Palestine and members of the wider public will attend the event to show solidarity and acknowledgement of the genocide taking place in Gaza.
The event in Galway is part of a nationwide day of action for Palestine taking place on higher education campuses on April 17 with the aim of putting pressure on all Irish third level institutions to take a number of actions.
These include: issue a statement condemning Israel's genocide against the Palestinians; condemn Israel’s deliberate destruction of Gaza's educational infrastructure; demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire and ensure unhindered access to aid for Gaza; implement a sector wide Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) policy advocating for the withdrawal of support from companies engaged in violations of Palestinian human rights, especially the cutting of all ties with Israeli universities, cultural institutions and collaborations involving the Israeli commercial and industrial sectors; offer support to Palestinian academics, researchers, and students; commit to investing in the restoration of Palestinian education.
Jenny Roche Lecturer in Film Studies and a member of University of Galway Staff4Palestine said: “We are grateful that the University of Galway has already issued a strong statement acknowledging the need for an immediate ceasefire and to stop the genocide of Palestinian people in Gaza. We are also pleased to note that the University has committed to reviewing its relationship with Israeli universities. This type of ethical leadership matters. We now wish to see our university take the next steps in support of Palestine, and we encourage other universities to follow suit on these actions”.
