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UNI WAR ART IS PULLED DOWN
Police called as students storm Ministry of Defence exhibition
A UNIVERSITY art exhibition run by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to celebrate the contribution ethnic minorities have made to the armed forces has been pulled down after students stormed a gallery.
The “We Were There” display at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) was cancelled after just one day following a sit-in by student activists.
The MoD quickly removed the exhibition amid fears of vandalism and further trouble.
The university responded by pledging to review whether the MoD would be allowed to use campus fairs to promote the work of the army in the future.
Students began their protest by scaling walls on Tuesday night and barricading themselves inside the Brunei Gallery in Thornhaugh Street, Bloomsbury, with bike locks and tables.
The protesters, who carried banners saying “SOAS students in solidarity with Gaza”, labelled the exhibition as “military propaganda”.
Clare Solomon, who led the protest, said: “The exhibition is insensitive and comes down to being military propaganda and a celebration of colonialism. The army has no place at SOAS and thanks to the occupation this will be the last time they get close.”
Police were called to the gallery by univer?sity authorities. No arrests were made and the university has offered the students immunity from disciplinary action.
The MoD have condemned the action, calling it opportunistic and claiming it had nothing to do with the British Army and effectively amounted to a protest against Israeli military action in Gaza instead.
An MoD spokesman said: “The students were protesting against Gaza and to say the exhibition is racist is completely ridiculous and actually very offensive.”
He added: “The We Were There exhibition celebrates the personal commitment and professionalism of those who have served in the Armed Forces regardless of religion, race, gender or social background.”
Students have now been given the gallery space to hold a series of talks.
Among the familiar names who have agreed to speak are the writer Tariq Ali and leading member of the Socialist Workers Party, John Rose. Previously the room cost £1,000 a day to hire and was off limits to students.
A joint statement issued by the Student Union and SOAS said: “We are pleased to announce that the occupation of the Brunei Gallery Suite by students ended peacefully at 5pm on Wednesday.
“The MoD has decided to remove their exhibition. The school and the Student Union have agreed to enter into a discussion to agree a policy with regard to future military presence on SOAS premises.” |
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