Published 17 October 202421 October 2024 · open letter / Palestine Open letter to Western Sydney University in solidarity with students University Staff in solidarity with WSU students 17 October 2024 We the undersigned, academics and professional staff at Australian Universities, seek your immediate assurance that Western Sydney University (WSU) will stop enabling police presence on its campuses for the purpose of suppressing and deterring student protests. As academics who share a commitment to the democratic rights of assembly, protest, expression and dissent especially within the context of institutions of higher learning, we are outraged that police brutality is being unleashed against students engaging in protest of the ongoing genocide in Gaza and massacres in Lebanon, which have already claimed over 44,000 lives, with some experts estimating the numbers are in the hundred thousands. On 9 October 2024 students assembled to demand that WSU divest from companies involved in weaponized planes, drones, and other instruments of war. Their protest was an act of conscience against the ongoing massacres in Gaza and Lebanon. In a disturbing violation of democratic rights, police and riot squad arrived heavily armed and escalated what had been a peaceful sit-in. Shocking footage widely circulated online shows police officers intimidating students and staff, and forcefully arresting two students. Plainclothes officers armed with weapons were deployed alongside uniformed police, further intensifying the situation. An additional raid and arrest were made in the day following the protest, fuelling fear and panic in the student population. The students were charged with assault and resisting arrest and draconian bail conditions were imposed including being banned from campus and from contacting members of WSU for Palestine Collective including academic staff. This crackdown appears to have been premeditated by WSU management and campus security. Before the protest began, WSU’s Director of Campus Safety and Security, Anthony Attard, sent an email to staff indicating that measures were in place to prevent the protest from disrupting university activities, alluding to the police presence that was already visible across the campus. Despite later denials from university officials, the deployment of police units appears to have been coordinated at high levels of university administration and government. As an institution that prides itself on offering a home to students from diverse, working class, racialised and other marginalised backgrounds, the move to criminalise student protest by allowing violent police presence reveals the limit point of the university’s inclusivity. WSU management views its students in Parramatta, many of whom have family members directly affected by the violence in Palestine and Lebanon, with contempt if its response to acts of conscience and protest is criminalisation. While WSU teaches the violence of criminalisation and racialisation in its criminology courses and classrooms, it is being violently practiced on its campuses. The heavy-handed police action at WSU is not just an attack on the students arrested but on all those who dare to speak out against injustice. The students were simply using their voices and presence to bring attention to WSU’s complicity in the violence occurring in Palestine and Lebanon. The UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of assembly and association, Gina Romero, recently called universities to protect the right of students, to “actively facilitate and protect peaceful assemblies, refrain from and cease any surveillance and retributions against students and staff for expressing their views or participating in peaceful assemblies, and ensure transparent and independent investigation into human rights violations that occurred in the context of the camps and other peaceful assemblies, revoke sanctions related to the exercise of fundamental freedoms, and provide effective and full remedies to affected students and staff.” The arrests at WSU are not isolated incidents. They are part of a broader pattern of police repression across Australian universities against those who protest against Israel’s atrocities. Police have maintained a repeated presence at pro-Palestinian protests at Universities such as Macquarie, ANU and WSU, and management have repeatedly threatened students with police action, creating an atmosphere of intimidation for students and faculty alike. We demand that the democratic rights of students on Australian campuses be upheld and protected. As academics from Australian universities, we demand: A full and independent investigation into the conduct of police and campus security during the protest at WSU, with specific attention to the excessive use of force against unarmed students and faculty. An immediate halt to any further police involvement in campus protests, to ensure that WSU remains a place for open debate and free expression, not a site of state repression. Accountability from Western Sydney University’s leadership, particularly Vice-Chancellor George Williams, who must explain the university’s role in this violent suppression and commit to protecting students’ right to protest. Drop charges and immediately suspend the bail conditions imposed on the arrested students, which limit their freedom of movement and further penalise them for engaging in non-violent protest. A transparent and expedited process to sever WSU’s financial ties to Israeli military-linked companies, as demanded by the students. The students at WSU, like their peers around the world, have bravely stood up against war crimes and genocide. We unreservedly support students in their calls for justice. We demand that universities remain places where dissent is not only tolerated but encouraged as part of a thriving democratic society. We stand in solidarity with those arrested and with all students and staff who continue to resist the militarization of Australian universities and stand against genocide. As the global tide of repression rises, our response is to defend free speech, protest, and the right to advocate for a more just world. If you wish to add your name to the letter, please use this form. In solidarity, A/Prof Maria Giannacopoulos, UNSW Nathan Zhao, Macquarie University A/Prof Jumana Bayeh, Macquarie University Dr Nick Riemer, University of Sydney Susan Barnes, Macquarie University Aiden Magro, University of Sydney Vasiliki Franco-Klothos, PhD Candidate, UNSW Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah, Macquarie University Dr Lana Tatour, UNSW Professor Karima Laachir, ANU Professor Alana Lentin, Western Sydney University Dr Natalia Maystorovich Chulio, University of Sydney Antoinette Abboud, Western Sydney University Dr Lucia Sorbera, The University of Sydney Dr Na’ama Carlin, UNSW Dr Noam Peleg, UNSW Associate Professor Phillip Wadds, Faculty of Law & Justice, UNSW Dr Stephen Pascoe, UNSW Dr Astrid Lorange, UNSW Dr Andy Kaladelfos, University of New South Wales Dr Daej Arab Dr Ann El Khoury, University of Sydney Dr Markela Panegyres, University of Sydney HDR candidate, Aman, University of New South Wales Dr Alex Luke, University of Sydney Dr Jordana Silverstein, University of Melbourne Elise Klein, ANU Dr Julia Dehm, La Trobe University Dr. Adil Hasan Khan, The University of Melbourne Dr Ben Spies-Butcher, Macquarie University Dr David Brophy, University of Sydney Dr Eve Vincent, Macquarie University A/Prof Ntina Tzouvala, ANU A/Prof Jessica Whyte, UNSW Gabriel Curtin, UNSW Dr Dariush Izadi, Western Sydney University Dr Ingrid Matthews Dr Andrew Brooks, UNSW Melanie Morrison, The University of Sydney A/Prof Tanja Dreher, UNSW Toyah Webb, UNSW Dr Anastasia Murney, UNSW Dr Steven Hansen, Macquarie University Susan Barnes, Macquarie University Dr Jenna Condie, Western Sydney University Dr Sara Dehm, University of Technology Sydney A/Prof Sukhmani Khorana, UNSW June Acido Miskell, UNSW Professor Juan Tauri, University of Melbourne A/Prof Debbie Bargallie, Griffith University A/Prof Mary Zournazi, UNSW Natalie Ironfield A/Prof Catherine Kevin, Flinders University Professor Joseph Pugliese, Macquarie University Alex Moulis, UNSW Dr Scott East, UNSW Dr Erica Millar, La Trobe University Dr Elizabeth Humphrys, University of Technology Sydney Dr Marivic Wyndham, UTS Professor Amanda Wise, Macquarie University Dr Ruth De Souza RMIT University Professor Luke McNamara, UNSW Distinguished Professor Emeritus Suvendrini Perera Dr Lara Palombo, Macquarie University Dr Emma Mitchell, Macquarie University Dr Anam Bilgrami, Macquarie University Dr Amanda Porter, University of Melbourne Dr Alistair Sisson, Macquarie University A/Prof Selvaraj Velayutham Macquarie University Dr Roar (Aurora) Murphy Dr. Zainul Swaleh, Macquarie University A/Prof Zora Simic, UNSW Professor Julia Quilter, University of Wollongong Eliza Carter, Macquarie University Dr Maimuna Musarrat, WSU Dr Andonis Piperoglou, University of Melbourne Associate Prof Ali Gumillya Baker, Flinders University Dr Andrew Whelan, University of Wollongong A/Prof Padraic Gibson, Jumbunna Research, University of Technology Sydney Anabelle Lacroix, UNSW Joe Tedeschi, University of Technology Sydney Dr Paul Byron, UTS Dr Edson Ziso, The University of Adelaide Siobhain O’Leary, Western Sydney University Professor Julia Quilter, University of Wollongong Professor Melinda Cooper, ANU Dr Niro Kandasamy, the University of Sydney Dr Shima Shahbazi, WSU Dr Scott Matter, UTS Skye Wagner, UNSW Dr Kathleen Openshaw, Western Sydney University Dr Sarah Redshaw, Charles Sturt University Associate Professor George Morgan, WSU Dr Kaitlin Lake, The University of Sydney Professor Cristina Rocha, WSU Dr Mark Hanly, UNSW A/Prof Jane Carey, University of Wollongong Associate Professor Alison Holland, Macquarie University Dr Mehal Krayem, UTS Dr Lloyd Cox, Macquarie University Dr Tatjana Seizova-Cajic, The University of Sydney A/Prof Crystal McKinnon, University of Melbourne Finola Laughren, University of Sydney Dr Bree Carlton, University of Melbourne Kaiya Aboagye WSU An Nguyen, University of Sydney Dr Suneel Jethani, UTS Dr Claire Parfitt, University of Sydney Dr Mike Roberts, UNSW Flavia Julius, Macquarie University Dr Ben Silverstein, ANU Adjunct A/Prof Chris Andrews, WSU Dr Hossai Gul, Transdisciplinary School, UTS Sonia Qadir, UNSW Dr Tegan Bennett Daylight WSU Dr Effie Karageorgos, The University of Newcastle Dr Gabriela Loureiro, University of Wollongong Professor Linda Briskman, Western Sydney University Associate Professor Mary Anne Kenny, Murdoch University Dr Shawna Tang, University of Sydney Dr Felicity Castagna, Western Sydney University Dr Selda Dagistanli, WSU A/Prof Kristopher Wilson, WSU Dr Rachel Yuen-Collingridge, Macquarie University Maryam Hashimi, University of Technology Sydney Dr Anthea Vogl, UTS Dr Alison Atkinson-Phillips, Murdoch University A/Prof Charles Cranfield, UTS Associate Professor Geir Henning Presterudstuen, University of Bergen & Western Sydney University Miss Thilakshi Mallawa Arachchi. Western Sydney University Ekaterina Heath, University of Sydney Dr. Kathleen Blair, UTS Dr Betty Luu, Western Sydney University Oishika Sinha WSU Dr Rodrigo Perez, MQU Carlos Vasquez, WSU Studenr Dr Nilmini Fernando Griffith University Dr Quah Ee Ling Claire Brownlie, Western Sydney Uni Zubia Usman, WSU Dr Zouhir Gabsi, Deakin University Dr Alexia Derbas Prof Marinella Marmo, Flinders University Professor Louise Crabtree-Hayes, Western Sydney University Dr Helen Taylor, Charles Sturt University Student, Wasmiya Alashour, USYD Dr Jeremy Ryder, Flinders University Carlos Cervantes Riyadh Al-Naseri, WSU Nestor Robles, WSU Dr Emma Rayward, University of Sydney Dr Kate Seymour, Flinders University Assoc Prof Barbara Baird, Flinders University Shobana Nair Zeejay You, WSU Asma Nayim Ullah, UTS Dr Dylan McConnell, UNSW Dr Jack Desbiolles, University of South Australia Mr. Vince De Guzman, WSU Mohini Tribhuvan Dr Jane Brophy, University of Melbourne Dr Niall Edwards-FitzSimons, University of Sydney Dr Lobna Yassine, University of Sydney Rakan Al-Omari, ACAP Mr Michael Irechukwu, WSU Dr Belinda A.Green Deanne Dale University of Wollongong Allen Nguyen, Fairfield For Palestine Social Worker – Ominah Arsalah – Youth off the Streets Dr Amelia Wheeler, University of Canberra Michelle Lin, UOW & WSU Ming Chung Kan, Student Bethlehem Mekonnen, UTS Dr Victoria Mason, Murdoch University Siobhán Costigan, University of Technology Sydney Hamilton Kennedy, La Trobe University Prof Leanne Weber, University of Canberra Sophie Toocaram, Australian Catholic University Dr George Dertadian, UNSW Mrs Jemma Moody-Pugh, Deakin University Valerie Ang, Student, WSU Ryan David da silva Blayze Wood, WSU Student Rukaya Mallouk Dr Sacha Jamieson, University of Sydney Dr Ned Curthoys, The University of Western Australia Lilith Angle Hallie Stubbs BSW Gabrielle Gillespie Dr Clare Milledge, UNSW Dr Freya Higgins-Desbiolles, University of South Australia Xuancheng Pan, WSU Dr Kate Saxton, UniSQ Jay Delves, WSU Hanna Elkofairi, Western Sydney University Student, Bailey Hand, Western Sydney University Associate Professor Ros Darracott, University of Southern Queensland Dr Blythe Worthy, USYD Dr Lee WSU Dr Ioana A. Dumitru, University of Sydney Dr Oliver Kunz, UNSW Sydney Shalini Surandra, WSU Kuba Dorabialski, UNSW Mya Miller Dr Natalie Hendry, Uni of Melb Ali Khan Student, Banean Mouhaidle, WSU Natalie Femia, University of Sydney Dr David Carter, UNSW Summer Subakti, WSU Student Saliha Ameer, Student, La Trobe University Aaliyah Saleh, WSU Jasmine Pik, Western Sydney University Student, Amir ajaj, Western Sydney University Ellen Teece, WSU student Jodie, WSU Student, Uswah Rahman, WSU Yulita Bassilious, Western Sydney University Caroline Ayad, Western Sydney University Kiara David, Western Sydney University Professor Juan Salazar Western Sydney University Joshua Sajo, WSU Dr Paula Sanchez, WSU Mariam Merhi, University of Sydney Student Dr Tim Anderson, Director, Centre for Counter Hegemonic Studies A/Prof Ben Etherington, Western Sydney University Lilli Barto, University of Sydney Professor Matthias Boer, Western Sydney University Zuhairah Dindar, UNSW Dr Sana Pathan, WSU alumni Stefan Solomon, Macquarie University Professor Elise Pendall, Western Sydney University Dr. Antonina Gentile, Macquarie University Prof Michael Head Western Sydney University Brook Armstrong, Macquarie University Dr Rangika Palliyaarachchi, Western Sydney University Dr Carolyn D’Cruz La Trobe University Dr Chris Martin, UNSW Sydney Dr Natalie Osborne, Griffith University Sian Troath, ANU Dr, Michael Morgan, University of Melbourne Dr Amy Gill, The University of Sydney Dr Richard Joyce Associate Professor Brendan Keogh, Queensland University of Technology Dr Jarrod Hore, UNSW Dr Ben Eltham, Western Sydney University graduate Dr Michael Mohammed Ahmad, Sweatshop Literacy Movement Dr Siobhan Irving, UTS Dr Kurt Sengul, Macquarie University Dr Sara Cheikh Husain Dr Ben Hightower, Macquarie University Sulagna Basu, PhD candidate, University of Sydney Jann Alhafny Dr Yung En Chee, University of Melbourne Dr Matt Mason UniSC Professor Sujatha Fernandes, University of Sydney Dr Elizabeth Strakosch, University of Melbourne PhD Candidate and Research Officer, Ivan Kotzur, Western Sydney University Ms Aileen Pamonag Lane, WSU Dr Srinjoy Bose, UNSW Sydney Elizabeth Barrett, UNSW Dr Adam Daniel, Western Sydney University Sam Abuarga, Western Sydney University Grace Dulawan Omaim Al-Baghdadi, PhD candidate WSU Robin Eames, University of Sydney Lisa Phillips, RN, WSU alumni Katherine Newman, UNSW Dr James Jiang, WSU Dr. Norman Nikro Professor Anthony Burke, UNSW Dr Lisa Tilley, SOAS Dr Alissa Macoun, QUT Dr Angela Smith, Western Sydney University Claudia Minter, Macquarie University Dr Dashiell Moore, University of Sydney Jane Worsley, WSU alumni Dr Caitlin Biddolph, UTS WSU Alumni, Winnie Dunn, Sweatshop Literacy Movement Tagrid Yassine, PhD student at Western Sydney University A/Prof Caroline Lenette, UNSW Dr Teja Kodali FRACP, WSU Alumni Dr Muntaser Mahmud, WSU Alumni Dr Shaun Wilson, Macquarie University Prof Ben Golder, UNSW Dr Fernanda Penaloza, University of Sydney Professor Mark Byron, University of Sydney Dr Land Phan, WSU alumni Dr Joshua Hallwright, Centre for Humanitarian Leadership, Deakin University Dr. Michael Karadjis, Western Sydney University Professor Catherine Moury, NOVA University Dr Dylan Lino, University of Queensland Dr Tanusha Hossain (MBBS, FRACGP), WSU Alumni Dr Jacqueline Nelson, UTS Dr Sahar Ghumkhor, University of Melbourne Dr Ruth Marshall. Political Science, University of Toronto Clare Strahan, Teacher, RMIT University Ana Cochran WSU Dr. Neil Balan, SMU/Dalhousie U/WLU Professor Priyamvada Gopal, University of Cambridge Kris Bustamante A/Prof MareePardy Deakin University Dr Lisa Radford University of Melbourne Rosie Isaac, University of Melbourne Dr Michelle Hamadache, Macquarie University Dr Bashi Kumar-Hazard, University of Sydney Benjamin Hickey, RMIT university Dr Tasnim Hasan, WSU alumni Zlata Kazic, Macquarie University College Dr Rhiannon Bandiera, Maynooth University, Ireland Vivian Chordi Macquarie University Md Shahzeb Akhter, Independent Scholar Milhara Kankanamge, University of Sydney Dana Marjan, Casual Academic, UTS Dr Vanessa Whittington Western Sydney University Prof Brigitta Olubas UNSW Olivia Tasevski, University of Melbourne Angelita Biscotti, Sessional Academic, University of Melbourne Steven Le, UNSW Dr Tuba Boz, RMIT University Taylor Kajewski, Western Sydney University Law Student J.S., WSU Kimberly Chiswell, Independent Dr Ihab Shalbak, University of Sydney Hiero Badge, ANU Mary Jo Mc Veigh If you wish to add your name to the letter, please use this form. 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