Several Jewish Bristol students were shouted at during a pro-Palestinian march yesterday, October 7th 2023.
Demonstrations took place yesterday, on the second anniversary of the October 7th attacks, across many university cities. Bristol, which has been host to many pro-Palestinian marches, saw a large congregation gather on College Green.
Speaking to The Times, an undergraduate at Bristol University said they had been met with hostile behaviour from pro-Palestinian marches and told “antisemitism no longer needs disguising.” Other students described the march as “beyond intimidating.”
Avon and Somerset Policy were also stationed outside of Wills Memorial Hall yesterday as pro-Palestinian demonstrations were anticipated.
A Bristol student told The Times: “I have been shouted at today (Tuesday)…I have been told that October 7th was justified resistance, that the Jews have no right to a homeland, and that antisemitism no longer needs disguising.”
They also explained “two students were walking back from synagogue, wearing a kippah and ‘Free Palestine!’ was shouted directly at them.”
Similar hostilities have been felt by Jewish students at other UK universities, including London, Sheffield and Edinburgh. It comes after Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, implored university leaders to ensure they would work with Jewish groups to keep their students safe. In her letter to UK universities, she wrote: “Jewish students must be able to conduct their studies and express their Jewish identities on campus in safety.”
The Union of Jewish Students has said that Jewish students are “frightened to go to their lectures.”
The tensions come just under a week after a terror attack on a synagogue in Manchester last Thursday. The Prime Minister urged students not to join pro-Palestinian protests and warned of “rising antisemitism on our streets”. He continued that protesting at this time was “un-British.”
