“It is imperative that the student movement awakens”

More than a hundred tents took over the grass tonight in front of the student building of the Complutense University of Madrid. Students at the capital’s main public universities are protesting against the killing of civilians in Gaza and joining international rallies demanding a ceasefire in the Strip and calling on governments to cut their political and economic ties with Israel. are doing.

At ten o’clock at night all the tents were set up, the group of guitar players and dinner were announced. “Guys, there are six people who ordered a vegetarian dinner, but only two have arrived,” a young woman announces through a megaphone. “When all this is served, we start with food for everyone,” he adds. A group of students approach tables, several others have brought food from home: potato omelettes, supermarket empanadas, macaroni.

Gathered around some candles, a guitar and a flute, several young people sing I will not hesitate, bolivian soldier And street breeze, They are the liveliest group in the camp. Volunteers at the information point, right next to the purple dot, show newcomers the set up areas for camping and discuss library toilet hours. They need to brush their teeth. All of them have been raising political slogans since morning. He has called a demonstration at 7:30 pm, which was attended by about 200 people, including professors and university staff.

“It is absolutely essential that the student movement wakes up and begins to mobilize on a larger scale that also affects other areas,” says Natalia, a Complutense student and student representative at the Faculty of Political Sciences. The concentration is called by the Interuniversity Bloc for Palestine and brings together students from the Autonomous University, the Complutense University, the Carlos III University of Madrid and the Rey Juan Carlos University.

It is absolutely essential that the student movement wakes up and begins mass mobilization that impacts other areas as well.

Natalia, student

Dozens of Palestinian flags are flying in the makeshift camp, and organizations have hung posters demanding that the rectory press any kind of agreement with Tel Aviv. “We are trying to draw attention to ending the genocide in Gaza by doing our best and by doing our part as much as we can,” says Sonia Camacho, representative of the Interuniversity Bloc. Daniel Meier-Richard, spokesman for the Madrid Palestine camp, says their intention is to “join the wave of international solidarity” that extends from the United States to several other European capitals. “We believe that we cannot remain silent as long as our universities and our governments are collaborating in genocide,” the young man says.

“This is a terrible genocide that includes our government, and that includes our universities. And more than 40,000 Palestinians have already been murdered there,” says Natalia. He said, “We are not going to stop until universities break all kinds of ties, both with the State of Israel, and with educational centers, and with companies that are part of the Government Council and that have arms companies. There is a stake.” I assure you.

The duration of the camp is currently uncertain and the boys hope that more people will join in the coming days. The reality is that they have everything well structured. They’ve brought dozens of chairs from Decathlon, they’ve placed water jugs for everyone at the entrance and garbage bags in every corner. They organize logistics meetings and set up a study area with tables for students who need to work. “We are in testing season,” he explains. If it were not for the obviously retributive and political motivations, the distribution of stores might have resembled a summer music festival.

Empty gestures and empty words are of no use to us. Everyone knows that genocide is being carried out. we are watching it live

Emilio Viciana, advisor to the Universities of the Community of Madrid, announced this Monday that he plans to call rectors and ask them to “keep politics out of the classrooms.” “Of course we find this unacceptable. We always support that politics should be kept out of the classrooms. On behalf of the Madrid community we are going to make every effort to make this happen,” he warned, at the same time as the demands of Madrid students began to be shared on the network.

On the other hand, the Central Government has expressed support towards the students’ campaign. Science Innovation and Universities Minister Diana said yesterday: “As Universities Minister I have to show pride in our country’s university students who think and apply critical thinking and deliver it to society through universities and public spaces ” Morant.

Still, the executive’s words mean nothing to the youth gathering on campus. “We call on the government to cut ties with Israel and end the arms trade,” says Mair-Richard. “Empty gestures and empty words are of no use to us. Everyone knows he is committing genocide. We are watching it live,” he added.

After dinner, some students organize a card tournament. “Let’s play Sleepy Town. Do you want?” they ask. Meanwhile, others ‘play Tetris’ to see how they sleep. Most tents are individual, although many couples try to prove that they are suitable. Others are so large that their residents can afford to decorate the interior walls with Palestinian flags. Around 11:00 it begins to get cold, the wind increases and attendees share sweatshirts and blankets.

—Can I take a picture of you?

– Yes, of course, my parents have already seen me on TV.

The difference in the pace of severing ties with other universities amid the Ukrainian–Russian conflict and the Palestinian–Israeli conflict upset many of those gathered on campus. They assure that “they did not hesitate with Russia” and in this case, they are told that “it is impossible.” “We haven’t seen the same reaction, neither from universities, nor from the government, nor from the media,” says Camacho. Some students also condemn the repression of the pro-Palestine movement by the rectors. Meier-Richard says, “At Carlos III University, there have been demonstrations to sever ties with Israel, and the university has responded with a protocol that prohibits associations from criticizing the university and all its activities. limited to institutional loyalty.” ,

When the student movement rises up against oppression and against imperialism, it is able to infect other areas.

The pro-Palestinian camps in the United States – which began at Columbia University and have already detained more than 2,500 people in the country – have reached as far as Berlin, Amsterdam and Paris. In Spain they started in Valencia, being joined by Barcelona and Euskadi and now Madrid. “For me, this is a turning point,” says Natalia. “We have not seen the student movement act internationally for many years, but history has already shown us that, when student movements rise against oppression and rises up against imperialism, it is capable of infecting other regions.”

“Today the Madrid student movement has become active. It is already part of the international wave of the generation that says no, they will not see on social networks how genocide happens, ”says Natalia Bye. At 2 o’clock in the night the voices and songs start to subside. Most of the protesters are in their shops, with only a few groups of friends smoking their last cigarettes. “Come on, more tomorrow,” he says.