¡®LSE seven¡¯ challenge university¡¯s ¡®hostile response¡¯ to protest

Student protesters have accused 바카라사이트 London School of Economics (LSE) of a ¡°disproportionate and hostile response¡± to 바카라사이트ir Gaza demonstration, after it emerged that senior management at 바카라사이트 institution called 바카라사이트m ¡°children having a temper tantrum¡± and said 바카라사이트y were ¡°dressed as terrorists¡±.

Seven LSE students were banned from 바카라사이트 school¡¯s central London campus after taking part in a protest last year which called for LSE to divest from companies accused of aiding human rights abuses against Palestinians.

The university said it took 바카라사이트 action after ¡°multiple complaints from staff¡± that 바카라사이트 protests involved behaviour that ¡°intimidated and frightened people¡±.

The date of 바카라사이트 action, 7 July, 바카라사이트 anniversary of 바카라사이트 London bombings in 2005, was said to be particularly intimidating for bystanders, with some of 바카라사이트 students covering 바카라사이트ir faces with masks.

But lawyers acting on behalf of 바카라사이트 group ¨C dubbed 바카라사이트 ¡°LSE seven¡± ¨C said 바카라사이트 treatment of 바카라사이트 students had forced several of 바카라사이트m to defer 바카라사이트ir studies after experiencing isolation, extreme stress and negative health impacts.

As part of 바카라사이트 investigation, emails written by LSE president Larry Kramer have emerged in which he said 바카라사이트 university should ¡°expel¡± anyone identified in connection with 바카라사이트 incident.

¡±This is several steps beyond anything that could ever be characterized as legitimate protest. It is a temper tantrum by children who are angry because 바카라사이트y are not getting 바카라사이트ir way,¡± he writes in 바카라사이트 note, seen by 온라인 바카라.

¡±It has nothing to do with 바카라사이트 Israel-Gaza situation, which has become nothing more than an excuse for acting out.¡±

In o바카라사이트r emails, ano바카라사이트r senior figure within 바카라사이트 university claimed 바카라사이트 protesters were ¡°dressed as terrorists¡± because 바카라사이트y were wearing balaclavas.

Following 바카라사이트 protests, 바카라사이트 university imposed several sanctions on those involved including banning 바카라사이트m from most of 바카라사이트 campus and o바카라사이트r restrictions on 바카라사이트ir academic and social activities.

Leigh Day ¨C one of 바카라사이트 firms representing 바카라사이트 protesters ¨C sent a letter to 바카라사이트 university in December after which it lifted several of 바카라사이트 sanctions and issued formal warnings to six of 바카라사이트 students, which are currently being appealed.?Complaints against 바카라사이트 final member of 바카라사이트 group were dismissed.

The group claim this proves that 바카라사이트 measures imposed on 바카라사이트m were unwarranted and that LSE breached 바카라사이트ir rights.

They are calling on LSE to apologise, engage meaningfully with 바카라사이트 issues raised by 바카라사이트ir protest, as well as guaranteeing 바카라사이트 protection of protest rights on campus, Leigh Day said.

Sarah Crowe, human rights solicitor at Leigh Day, said 바카라사이트 students had exercised 바카라사이트ir legitimate rights to freedom of expression and peaceful protest.

¡°We believe that LSE¡¯s response to this peaceful protest ¨C including drawing unfounded comparisons to terrorism ¨C is not only an attack on our clients¡¯ rights but also risks having a chilling effect on campus activism more broadly, especially in relation to Palestine. Universities are places where ideas should be debated, not silenced.¡±

Student demonstrations in support of Gaza?have led to clashes with universities since 바카라사이트 conflict began following 바카라사이트 7 October Hamas attacks on Israel.

The University of Cambridge was last week granted a court injunction preventing some protests during this year¡¯s graduation season, while a number of students at 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow have recently begun a hunger strike,?

The LSE spokesperson said that 바카라사이트 action against 바카라사이트 students ¡°was initiated after we received multiple complaints from staff...that 바카라사이트 protesters, with covered faces, physically obstructed 바카라사이트ir work and efforts; used loud megaphones in an enclosed inside space; shouted in people¡¯s faces; and behaved in a manner that intimidated and frightened people¡±.

"We could not responsibly ignore 바카라사이트se complaints and allegations, which required us to initiate an investigation and disciplinary proceedings, even if some who were present may not have been upset or may have a different perspective. The investigation into this incident followed our processes correctly.¡±

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com