Home » News » Brunel University protestors brandish imitation firearm on campus

Brunel University protestors brandish imitation firearm on campus

Gaz Corfield, 12:40 pm, Friday, 27 January, 2012

A group of Brunel University students are alleged to have held a violent protest which involved an imitation firearm, their student union was told on Thursday.

Some of the students said to be involved have been named as psychology student Ezgi Akarsu, law student Jade Doswell, politics student Danny Lemon (pictured above climbing on the statue) and psychology student Melissa Wong, who is also the student union’s Environmental Chair.

The named students, along with others from the Brunel Friends of Palestine society, held a protest on Brunel’s Uxbridge campus against the presence of Israeli diplomat Ran Gidor on 18th January. Mr Gidor had been invited to speak about the Arab-Israeli conflict by Dr Matthew Hughes of the university’s social sciences faculty.

Other students claimed that an imitation firearm was waved in their faces by the protestors, which became the subject of a motion put forward at the student assembly.

Section 19 of the Firearms Act 1968 makes it a criminal offence to have an imitation firearm in a public place, carrying a sentence of six months in prison and a fine of £400.

A Brunel student who felt he came under attack from the protest stated: “I fully support the rights of students and anyone in society to hold a peaceful protest. The attacks upon myself and my character were both unfounded and untrue.”

The alleged victim added: “I am pleased that the Union of Brunel Students will formally investigate the incident and I hope that the issue is managed swiftly and effectively.”

A motion passed at the student union’s governing assembly on Thursday evening condemned the Friends of Palestine society’s “unacceptable method” of protest. It also noted that no prior warning of the protest was given to either the student union or the university itself.

Student assembly members further denounced the protestors for their “despicable display of violence and abuse*”, which they said harmed the “diverse and multicultural” atmosphere at Brunel University. Elected officials from the student union have launched an investigation into the incident.

Jack Duffin, a member of the student assembly present during the meeting, said: “I was outraged to see Melissa Wong laugh at (name removed) during student assembly while he was talking about anti-semitic comments and imitation firearms being put in peoples’ faces.”

A spokesman from Brunel said: “It is the University’s intention to protect and promote lawful freedom of speech and assembly. The seminar of 18th January 2012 was organised in accordance with University policy and it was anticipated that there might be protests.”

The spokesman added: “Unless there is clear evidence that University policy is likely to be breached, or in the event that public order offences are committed, then we have every intention of maintaining this position.”

Image via Kerri Prince

*editor’s note dated 1715 27th January: this quotation was altered to read in its present form, as it originally quoted a line of the student assembly motion which did not refer to “condemnation.”

The relevant line of the motion reads as follows:

This Union Resolves

That in accordance with the No Platform Policy, the actions of those involved in this despicable display of violence and abuse should be officially condemned.

*editor’s note dated 2340 29th January: in light of received advice, a sentence from this article directly quoting comments alleged to have been made by the protestors has been removed.

38 Responses to Brunel University protestors brandish imitation firearm on campus

wally kennedy Reply

Friday, 27 January, 2012 at 3:58 pm

Well done to the students for opposing the visit of the representative of one of the world’s most brutal regimes. If I criticise the policies of the Irish or British governments; does that make me anti-Irish/British? Of course not. The right-wing Zionists however try to imply that criticism of the Israeli government is antisemitic. The Israeli government have dragged the ideas of Judaism into the gutter and soaked them in the blood of innocents. Zionism and Judaism have got nothing in common; a fact being widely recognised by all honest people internationally. As a long-time anti-fascist who has physically fought against anti-semites; it sickens me to hear this old canard of anti-semitism being used as a response to the brutalities and injustices carried out by the Israeli government.
Sean Smith Reply

Friday, 27 January, 2012 at 4:23 pm

I don’t really think we should be congratulating a violent protest which was effectively a protest against freedom of speech at a university which is meant to a temple of free thought and expression. The Students Union isn’t investigating the protest but the manner in which it took place, they had every right to peacefully protest. People were physically and verbally assaulted on university grounds and this article only scratches the surface of the abuse people were subject to for simply going to listen to a diplomat speak about an issue that is studied at Brunel, a module I personally take. A visit by such a person is highly beneficial to those studying it. So i’m proud to have been one of the assembly members who voted to launch this investigation which should hopefully send out a signal to all that this sort of behaviour is not tolerated in any way.
betty Reply

Friday, 27 January, 2012 at 8:45 pm

This article is incredibly biased. What lazy, shoddy journalism!
Hugh Jass Reply

Friday, 27 January, 2012 at 10:32 pm

The picture uploaded by Kerri Prince captioned “brunel extremists cropped” can be sanctioned to False defamatory libel punishable by imprisonment and fine subject to section 4 of the Libel Act 1843.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/6-7/96/section/4
- Gaz Corfield Reply
  
  Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 12:24 am
  
  The Libel Act 1843 hasn’t been in force for decades. Keep trying, the smears amuse me. – Gaz, editor.
a smith Reply

Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 2:06 am

It is terrible Journalism. Very biased, factually incorrect, and very slanderous. No smear intended, just generally disappointed in poor quality reporting with an obvious personal agenda.
Yura Reply

Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 2:51 am

Is that blue thing on the floor meant to be the replica gun. If so would that be the replica fire arm they were waving around. Libel law covers:
statements which are alleged to defame a named or identifiable individual (or individuals) in a manner which causes them loss in their trade or profession, or causes a reasonable person to think worse of him, her or them.
So when you name four students in your article, what are you trying to achieve? The things you heard these people say through your secondary sources might just be lies. maybe you should try and do a bit of investigative work instead of this lazy peice of rubbish. it might be because its easy for your right wing fiends at the university you used to go to, to do the work for you. Then you when you’ve sensationalized and fabricated enough of the information, your left with a suffiecently pale replica of the daily mail. Facile
Alice Reply

Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 2:59 am

Very disappoint to see that the West Londoner has stooped to such sensationalist journalism.
There’s already enough bias media, it’s a shame its being forced in our faces here too.
The use of emotive language clearly suggests there is another motives behind “reporting” this, other than for the sake of journalism.
As for the ‘names and shamed’, it’s quite shocking really. Talk about hanging them before hearing their case.

Stop being a miserable git and open your mind.
vata Reply

Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 11:34 am

Sorry about my sister. She gets really annoyed when she reads have a go journalists writing in such a vindictive and lazy manor. She doesn’t understand all this negative feedback will only inflate his ego and sadly, won’t make him more balanced in the future. We should all do our best to ignore this page and let him get on with it. The horizon is rather limited for people who write like this. The gutter press might have him, but any respectable organisation wont go near garbage like this.
jeena Reply

Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 12:52 pm

would like to make it very clear that Brunel friends of Palestine as a society did not organise this protest. The Society condones any forms of anti- semitism. Journalism has really lost all hope of gaining any credibility. Gaz Gorfield & sean smith please contact me I would love to sit down with you for a civilised conversation and would in fact invite you to the next event held by Brunel Friends of Palestine in which a Jewish speaker will give a brief lecture, It might also surprise you that the last event also included Glyn Secker a representative from Jews for justice In Palestine. Obviously you will choose to ignore these facts but please do get back to me when you decide to broaden your intellect a little by opening up your narrow minded ignorance. will look forward to hearing from you.
Alex Reply

Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 1:21 pm

This is hilarious.

The lefties all up in arms claiming this is “irresponsible journalism” and “destined to be gutter press” – but how many of you have *actually* read the article? For that matter, how many of you can actually read at all? Seems you spend an inordinate amount of time protesting and doing very little else.

Let’s make it very simple for those of you who seem to believe this article is a personal attack on your beliefs and characters:

“A group of Brunel University students are ALLEGED to have held a violent protest which involved an imitation firearm, their student union was told on Thursday.”

The language used here is totally correct as it indicates that nothing is concrete yet and at this stage the reports are still allegations. This means, for those of you who clearly can’t use a dictionary, that an assertion has been made WITHOUT proof.

Now, if you would like to come and explain to me how this is offensive and slanderous in any way, feel free.

The article goes on to DESCRIBE and EXPLAIN what is ALLEGED to have happened, and at no point passes any judgement – so those of you claiming there is emotive language and other forms of biased text ought to be reading back through right about now and realising what dickholes you actually are.

“Protesters ALLEGEDLY shouted the phrases “Zionist scum” and “Fascist w****r” at guests of the event. Other students CLAIMED that an imitation firearm was waved in their faces by the protestors.”

AGAIN ‘claims’ and ‘allegations’ – the article is watertight you fuckwits, now get back on your left-wing, eco-friendly VW vans of love and go hug some fucking trees.

On a side note: Jeena, I’m not sure if you *meant* to say that Brunel Friends of Palestine CONDONES anti-Semitism, but if you did, you’re an arsehole. If you didn’t, it seems like a rather fitting Freudian slip.
Sean Smith Reply

Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 1:22 pm

I find myself offended somewhat by being called ‘narrow minded’, ‘ignorant’ and lacking in ‘intellect’ for defending the right of those who do want to to feel threatened and abused by attending an event which aims to do the things you claim I should be doing. The sheer hypocrisy is somewhat baffling. The motion passed at student assembly, passed unanimously I might add is not about rights of Palestinians or whatever it is. I don’t care about the issue the protest was about. Israel and Palestine are a s far from my thoughts as anything is possible to be. What this is about is the appalling manner in which the protest was conducted, I know several people involved have gone to police about the abuse they received and I look forward to the completion of the unions investigation as many Union Policies were breached in the protest, most importantly the No Platform Policy which is meant to protect people from such politically motivated abuse.
English speaker Reply

Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 1:25 pm

Am i missing something?

“would like to make it very clear that Brunel friends of Palestine as a society did not organise this protest. The Society condones any forms of anti- semitism.”

Condone (Oxford on line dictionary) = accept (behaviour that is considered morally wrong or offensive):

or: approve or sanction (something), especially with reluctance:

So you are saying that the Brunel friends of Palestine supports anti sematism?
Fredrick Kamal Chorbender Reply

Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 1:42 pm

What a pathetic attempt at trying to tarnish a perfectly legitimate protest against an ambassador who represents a state that has committed numerous war crimes against another people based purely on there religion and creed(you failed to mention).
What did you expect us to do? Throw him a parade..

You have also failed to provide any evidence to support your claims about the behaviour of the protesters and the organisations they supposedly represent…

There will be consequences for your shoddy journalism…Mark My Words Gaz
- Sean Smith Reply
  
  Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 1:51 pm
  
  Once again people fail to read the article or the comments by those that were there. This is not about the protest taking place, but the manner in which it was conducted. The Union does not ban protests and is fully behind freedom of expression and assembly. What it does take issue with is the threatening and abuse of its members by a minority. You are just a biased as the article you are complaining about, you sad hypocrite. You are saying that a legitimate visit by an ambassador of a sovereign nation is terrible and evil yet abuse of members of the students union who went to listen to a compelling and interesting speaker isn’t….you need to get a grip, a reality check and grow the fuck up!
jeena Reply

Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 1:50 pm

* condemns
jeena Reply

Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 1:53 pm

don’t know if your aware but modern technology spell checks and changes words.
- SPAGmonster Reply
  
  Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 2:53 pm
  
  I don’t know if you’re aware, but modern technology checks spelling; the changing-words part is up to you.
Fredrick Kamal Chorbender Reply

Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 2:01 pm

@ Alex and Sean I was present during the whole protest and nobody was called a zionist scum or facist w****r. But your right they are just claims and allegations(pure lies).

We on the other hand concrete evidence that Israel has been inflicting (either directly or indirectly) harm, injury, death and destruction upon the Palestinian people.

So using your initiative why don’t you ask yourself why we are allowing an ambassador that represents a the israeli regime on our campus, instead of getting unnecessarily worked up over people expressing their views on how this pathetic piece of journalism was written.
Sean Smith Reply

Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 2:10 pm

So several colleagues of mine was mistaken then and were called a ‘Pianist’ and a ‘banker’? Its not hard to miss Zionist and Wanker, not many words some similar!

As I said before I couldn’t give a shit about Israel. This is about people who attend Brunel and are members of the students union feeling threatened and abused by an out of hand minority conducting a protest which the Union had no prior warning about. I think you’ll find assault is defined as a crime which causes the victim to fear violence. That definitely happened as I know the victims personally and professionally and they are not people who make things up and blow things out of proportion. So i’d get off your high horse if I were you and stop talking about a separate issue to attempt to make some half asked point. You don’t know what you’re talking about and so resort to plucking nonsensical arguments from out your arsehole!
Sean Smith Reply

Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 2:17 pm

Oh and the reason we allow people to speak at this campus is because we have a No Platform Policy which means we do not discriminate against people based on their race, religion or political stand point. Freedom or Speech, Association and Assembly are cherished liberties and rights of our student body. So if you disagree with this you should fuck off and go to you beloved Palestine and the terrorist regime that runs it where these things don’t exist!
vata Reply

Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 3:09 pm

Alex:
One cannot escape liability for defamation by putting the libel behind a prefix such as “I have been told that …” or “It is rumoured that …”, and then asserting that it was true that one had been told or that it was in fact being rumoured…. For the purpose of the law of libel, the hearsay statement is the same as a direct statement.
(Lord Devlin in Lewis v. Daily Telegraph Ltd., [1963] 2 All E.R. 151 at 173)

MOCK CHECKPOINT!!! Anyone who said they were intimidated should think how the palestinians feel every day. Women have to give birth at checkpoints. Alex you are allegedly a massive . Anyone with a brain cell knows Sean is lying when he describes the violent and abusive nature of the protest… There were no arrests and no one has gone to the police,,, Stop lying and wasting peoples time
- Gaz Corfield Reply
  
  Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 3:24 pm
  
  As you appear to know the law, perhaps you’d like to read the article carefully with reference to the acknowledged source material, and then expand your answer in light of Schedule 1 of the Defamation Act 1996. Extra marks for citing precedent. In your own time.
  - Fredrick Kamal Chorbender Reply
    
    Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 3:41 pm
    
    Gaz my man. I look forward to meeting you on campus to further discuss the contents of this article.
    
    Peace and Blessings Upon thee…
Sean Smith Reply

Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 3:28 pm

Once again i shall re-iterate that the purpose of the protest is irrelevant. It could have been to free bunnies for all Student Assembly are concerned. The investigation is into ALLEGATIONS (read the article) of abusive behaviour. If the people concerned feared violence, whether violence was intended or not, it is an assault and a number of people, not all of them my friends, certainly felt intimidated by what they experienced. The student assembly, 3 members of whom took part in the protest, voted unanimously for this investigation to take place. If the investigation, carried out by an excellent colleague of mine and several senior members of the assembly turns out nothing then so be it. But I know for a FACT that at least one of the people concerned has contacted the police in regards to assault and imitation firearms as advised by Brunel Security, a number of whom witnessed the events taking place who i’m sure will be giving evidence to the investigation. But im sure once again you will ignore this and try to talk about atrocities in Palestine, which I frankly don’t care about! All i’m concerned with is the safety of the members of the Students Union.
vata Reply

Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 3:40 pm

Your sources weren’t balanced. Therefore you didn’t take reasonable care. This is kind of cowardly, lazy journalism belongs in the gutter. You bring shame on the profession.
Jade D Reply

Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 4:39 pm

I think the “right” or those who defend this news rag are standardly resorting to their natural stance- attack and get personal. Patronising, telling people to read the article, only makes you look like incompetent. These are all allegations, yes, but if had no personal element to it, why did Gaz see the need to name those involved? If it is purely for informative purposes – why did he not wait until the investigation was completed? It won’t be looked at by any reputable source, it’s just hot air based on what his friends “think” they might have heard or seen. And he has the cheek to talk about referencing. LOL. If it wasn’t detrimental to what seem to be decent people, then I’d be pissing myself laughing at the whole thing. Also, alot of you need to learn the difference between “anti-zionism” (NOT RACIST) and “Anti-semitism”- (RACIST). Solidarity to all those needlessky condemned for Gaz’s little kicks!

Btw, if this is an attempt to get back into the industry, I’d leave it off you CV LOL.
avana Reply

Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 5:24 pm

http://gifsforum.com/images/gif/did%20not%20read/grand/10852374did_not_read.gif
Joshua Dixon Reply

Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 5:43 pm

I think those NOT involved should really keep away from making such comments towards one another. I chaired the meeting wherein the motion was passed to conduct an investigation. Some of the protestors involved were present and also voted FOR the investigation to be conducted. They showed an adult response and others should as well.

WAIT for the investigation and then pass comment. As for the comments above mine to Sean. If they’re real then they are some of the most vile things I’ve ever read coming from (who I hope isnt) a Brunel Student. Grow the fuck up, everyone.
Hannah Reply

Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 6:20 pm

I hope, that having made serious accusations against several named individuals you give them a right to reply. I also hope that all this fuss isn’t over a simple mock checkpoint performance protest, because those are common and go on in Universities all over the country without this hysteria. We’ve had several of these at my University:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZtFojRYvQU

People don’t understand the concept of free speech- it cuts both ways. Yes you get to hear from Israeli diplomats, but others also have the right to criticise them for their words and actions and you for hosting them.

Also Sean Smith:

“Freedom or Speech, Association and Assembly are cherished liberties and rights of our student body. So if you disagree with this you should fuck off and go to you beloved Palestine and the terrorist regime that runs it where these things don’t exist!”

Would that you knew how right you are, just not in the way you think:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/24/israel-jails-palestinian-parliament-speaker
http://imeu.net/news/article0022057.shtml
http://972mag.com/mustafa-tamimi-a-murder-captured-on-camera/29459/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/16/iran-scientists-state-sponsored-murder
Jade D Reply

Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 6:21 pm

I’m refraining from commenting on the matter, but I will say thanks for pointing that out Josh, and who ever is writing silly homophobic and profane things (Dean/ 1 Cheeky Kunt etc) really aren’t helping matters, please everybody EVERYBODY just leave it until the investigation is complete. I don’t know who you are but you aren’t helping our cause just showing that you are also being unecessarily nasty.

The best thing everybody can do now is to leave it until the investigation is complete.
- Mahartarmar Garndi Reply
  
  Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 6:44 pm
  
  I’d like to quote a pearl of wisdom by the philosopher that is Sean Smith.
  
  “So if you disagree with this you should fuck off and go to you beloved Palestine and the terrorist regime that runs it where these things don’t exist!” – Sean Smith
Gaz Corfield Reply

Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 7:17 pm

ADMIN COMMENT:

I have removed the worst of the vile personal abuse and foul language on here. If you wish to have a discussion on this website, you will do it in civil terms without resorting to needless profanities. This is your one and only warning.
- Danny Lemon Reply
  
  Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 7:40 pm
  
  Better yet why dont you just remove the article itself…genius
- Myron Gains Reply
  
  Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 7:45 pm
  
  Awesome censorship. Great removal. Look thick. Solid. Tight. Keep us all posted on your continued progress with any new progress removals or breach of freedom of speech. Show us what you got man. Wanna see how freakin’ bias, vindictive, murdochian and stush you can get. Thanks for the motivation.
  - Joshua Dixon Reply
    
    Saturday, 28 January, 2012 at 8:08 pm
    
    Freedom of speech? With freedom comes responsibility. No person should have to sit and be called the sort of things that were thrown about in these comments! Homophobia should never be accepted and Gaz had every right to remove such comments.
Jus Ayin Reply

Sunday, 29 January, 2012 at 11:41 am

The article in itself demonstrates the lengths as to which these guys will go in making themselves a “victim” so I really wouldn’t be surprised if those homophobic comments (which have been rightfully removed) were written from behind one of their own little computers. Well, that is Zionism all over for you.
Yael Kahn Reply

Saturday, 4 February, 2012 at 10:19 am

Visualising what the hundreds of checkpoints are for Palestinians is an important contribution to the understanding of the daily reality of the Israeli occupation. Palestinian students face humiliation, abuse and even being killed by Israeli soldiers at checkpoints.
A group of Israeli women have been trying to challenge the soldiers and document the daily abuse: Machsom Watch
To those who claim to be offended or upset by the mock checkpoint, please spare a minute to Maysun Hayek, who was attacked by violent Israeli soldiers who murdered her husband, Mohammed Hayek, then violated her by forcing her to undress.
Palestinian pregnant young lady in labour forced to take her cloths off they shoot dead her husband
Then read the translation from Hebrew of “The Target” by Tal Nitzan.
Only racists can defend the checkpoints, used to subjugate more than 2 million Palestinians.