Breaking: Occupation begins in Charles Wilson Building

The student activists say they intend to continue the occupation until the University meets their demands.

Protesters from student activist groups Glasgow Against Arms & Fossil Fuels (GAAF) and Glasgow University Justice for Palestine Society (GUJPS) have occupied the Sir Charles Wilson Building, blocking all entrances. 

The protesters told Hillhead Review: “30 students have occupied the Charles Wilson Building at the University of Glasgow insisting they will not leave until the University commits to sever all ties with the arms industry and enforces an academic boycott on Israel and its supporters.” 

In an Instagram post, three students claim to have begun a hunger strike in pursuit of their demands. One was quoted with saying: "The university has shown that it is happy to be complicit in the death and destruction of thousands of Palestinian lives, so we have decided to bring the implications of their decisions to their doorstep."

GAAF and GUJPS have demanded that the University must: “cease all investments in arms companies (any which earns more than 10% profits from manufacturing weapons), end their research partnerships with arms companies, institute a policy banning arms companies from careers fairs and recruitment talks, and lift the campus ban imposed on Hannah Taylor,” as well as exempt students involved in the occupation from disciplinary action.

In February, two individuals acting as part of Youth Demand (a student off-shoot of Just Stop Oil) spray-painted the exterior of the JMS Learning Hub in protest of the University’s investments. One of the alleged vandals, Hannah Taylor, is a University of Glasgow student and has since been banned from campus.

The Sir Charles Wilson building was previously occupied by GAAF and GUJPS on Friday 7 March as part of a ‘teach-in’ during which they held talks and screened pro-Palestine films in the building’s main lecture theatre. The occupation led to criticism from some students for “troubling and alienating” language including a call to “ban all Zionists” from campus. 

During the previous occupation, the activists stated that they were renaming the Sir Charles Wilson Building to the 'Ahmad Manasra Building'. Aged thirteen, Manasra was convicted of attempted murder against an Israeli man, although was later found not to have been involved. He was recently released from prison. 

One student told Hillhead Review that their class scheduled for 9am was cancelled as a result of today's occupation. A brief email from University Secretary David Duncan to students this morning read: "I am sorry to inform members colleagues and students that protesters have once again entered the Sir Charles Wilson Building.  

"There may be disruption to classes scheduled for that building this morning.  Timetabling will do their best to reschedule classes as quickly as possible. We apologise to all staff and students whose teaching and learning may be disrupted by this action."

The University told Hillhead Review: "The University of Glasgow upholds the right to freedom of expression, including the right of staff and students to engage in peaceful demonstrations.  However, we do not tolerate activities which interfere with the rights of others to go about their business in peace. 

"As an institution we stand against hate or harassment of any kind. We regularly communicate with all our staff and students about the need for tolerance towards each other, and we reiterate this call for all members of our community to be respectful to each other at all times."

When will the occupation end?

It is currently unclear how long the occupation will last, although the protesters insist that they will remain in the building until their demands are met. 

GAAF willinging ended their previous occupation of 11 University Gardens in February of 2024. After two weeks of occupying the building, GAAF and the University agreed to negotiate on some demands to end the occupation, ultimately setting up a working-group which would consult with activists over the issue of divestment. 

However, the last academic year has seen a ramping-up of the University's rhetoric towards protesters, including threats to expel students involved in disruptive action. Earlier this semester, student and member of Youth Demand Hannah Taylor was banned from campus after she and another protester sprayed paint across the front of the JMS.

Despite this, it should be noted that as of yet Hillhead Review understands that no students have been expelled from the University as a result of direct action.

Previous demonstrations by GAAF and GUJPS have ended abruptly. For example, after blocking entrances to the Rankine Building in the morning of 27 November 2024, protesters had dispersed by the late afternoon.

Published 19 March 2025