Leicester Psychologists for Social Change statement, April 2025:
We stand in solidarity with student activists arrested for peacefully protesting against atrocities in Palestine
We are writing in solidarity with the students who were arrested in their non-violent action against the University of Leicester. The students were protesting against the University’s complicity in the on-going genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. As the Leicester Chapter of the Psychologists for Social Change, we have been following developments in the University’s repressive response to the activist’s resistance.
We are shocked by the silence, denial, and minimisation of the mainstream media and UK Government about the genocide, ethnic cleansing and war crimes being perpetrated by Israel in Palestine. The insidious occupation and militarisation in the West Bank and the suppression of activism and resistance in the UK are powerful mechanisms which are erasing the Palestinian people. The courageous students were driven to protest and shed light on these horrors by their heartbreak at witnessing such terrible atrocities. The University has been complicit in refusing to fully disclose and divest from companies that support the apartheid State of Israel, the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians and the forced expansion of illegal Israeli settlements. The University of Leicester also invests millions of pounds annually in research, business and enterprise partnerships with arms companies. We have pride in the stance the students have taken in the face of personal costs and the actions and critical analyses of these students should be applauded.
The University of Leicester has chosen to silence and criminalise the peaceful protest of the students. It purposely welcomed violent and excessive policing. As citizens of the local community we feel ashamed as to how these young people have been mistreated by the University. This also raises concerns about UK anti-protest laws, which are stifling basic tenets of democracy. The University has actively pursued costly criminal charges despite being in a financial climate where staff jobs are under threat. The students now face a week-long trial in the summer after a very long period of experiencing the uncertainty and destabilisation of a curfew and suspension from their studies. There is blatant hypocrisy in this from a university who publicly celebrates a 100 year history of students participating in activism and bases its values around creating space for “citizens for change” and being a “force for good”. On the surface it may seem commendable that the University supports students from Gaza as a supposed leading ‘University of Sanctuary’. However their stance against the student protestors shows this is nothing but an act of white-washing and a smokescreen for complicity in the war itself.
We call for the following actions in wider support of the students and for Palestine:
Leicester Psychologists for Social Change are a local chapter of the Psychologists for Social Change network- a collection of individuals who are interested in applying psychology to policy and political action.
[email protected]
We are shocked by the silence, denial, and minimisation of the mainstream media and UK Government about the genocide, ethnic cleansing and war crimes being perpetrated by Israel in Palestine. The insidious occupation and militarisation in the West Bank and the suppression of activism and resistance in the UK are powerful mechanisms which are erasing the Palestinian people. The courageous students were driven to protest and shed light on these horrors by their heartbreak at witnessing such terrible atrocities. The University has been complicit in refusing to fully disclose and divest from companies that support the apartheid State of Israel, the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians and the forced expansion of illegal Israeli settlements. The University of Leicester also invests millions of pounds annually in research, business and enterprise partnerships with arms companies. We have pride in the stance the students have taken in the face of personal costs and the actions and critical analyses of these students should be applauded.
The University of Leicester has chosen to silence and criminalise the peaceful protest of the students. It purposely welcomed violent and excessive policing. As citizens of the local community we feel ashamed as to how these young people have been mistreated by the University. This also raises concerns about UK anti-protest laws, which are stifling basic tenets of democracy. The University has actively pursued costly criminal charges despite being in a financial climate where staff jobs are under threat. The students now face a week-long trial in the summer after a very long period of experiencing the uncertainty and destabilisation of a curfew and suspension from their studies. There is blatant hypocrisy in this from a university who publicly celebrates a 100 year history of students participating in activism and bases its values around creating space for “citizens for change” and being a “force for good”. On the surface it may seem commendable that the University supports students from Gaza as a supposed leading ‘University of Sanctuary’. However their stance against the student protestors shows this is nothing but an act of white-washing and a smokescreen for complicity in the war itself.
We call for the following actions in wider support of the students and for Palestine:
- The University of Leicester should drop all charges against the students, allow them to reinstate their studies and engage in active conversation with them about their demands.
- Consider ways in which to boycott the University of Leicester, for example choosing to apply to a university more authentically committed towards its values.
- Donate to the fundraiser to cover the legal costs of the students
- Sign the @leicsaction4pal open letter in solidarity
- Understand and support the demands of the students
Leicester Psychologists for Social Change are a local chapter of the Psychologists for Social Change network- a collection of individuals who are interested in applying psychology to policy and political action.
[email protected]
PSC Leicester are continuing to meet virtually, monthly on the last Tuesday of the month, 7pm. We welcome anyone with an interest in applying psychology to policy and action to join us. Please email [email protected] and we will send you the joining link.
Early examples of our group actions are below.
The Power Threat Meaning Framework: An alternative approach to functional psychiatric diagnosis
A discussion evening with Professor John Cromby, contributing author on Tuesday 10 July 2018 in Leicester
Join us on Wednesday 29th November to help form our new group!
Our inaugural discussion evening in Leicester was widely attended and there was a lot of interest in setting up a Psychologists for Social Change group in Leicester. We'd like to invite you to our second meeting to think together about the name, identity, focus and purpose of the new group.
Date: Wednesday 29th November 2017
Time: 19:00 – 20:30
Venue: University of Leicester, Centre for Medicine, Room 0.02, 15 Lancaster Road, LE1 7HA
To generate discussion and include the voices of those unable to attend the meeting, we have set up a Google document for anyone who would like to comment on these ideas. Feel free to add your thoughts in advance of the meeting.
Please email rj170@le.ac.uk to let us know you are coming. We look forward to seeing you there!
PSC Leicester
Date: Wednesday 29th November 2017
Time: 19:00 – 20:30
Venue: University of Leicester, Centre for Medicine, Room 0.02, 15 Lancaster Road, LE1 7HA
To generate discussion and include the voices of those unable to attend the meeting, we have set up a Google document for anyone who would like to comment on these ideas. Feel free to add your thoughts in advance of the meeting.
Please email rj170@le.ac.uk to let us know you are coming. We look forward to seeing you there!
PSC Leicester
What use is Psychology;
a sticking plaster or an opportunity for transformative change?
A discussion evening in Leicester: Tuesday 10th October 2017 from 7pm.
For World Mental Health Day, Psychologists Against Austerity Midlands and Psychologists for Social Change Leicester are hosting a free discussion event open to everyone with an interest in thinking about the application of psychology for political action and policy change. Everyone who attends will have the opportunity to contribute to the discussion throughout the evening. We hope the theme will encourage a rich reflection on the ways in which we have become used to hearing and talking about mental health in mainstream forums. We also hope that others based around Leicester will feel inspired to help us shape the newly formed Psychologists for Social Change Leicester group.
Date: 10th October 2017
Time: 19:00 - 20:30
Venue: University of Leicester, Centre for Medicine, Room 0.02, 15 Lancaster Road, LE1 7HA
For more information or to book your free place at this event, please email [email protected].
Date: 10th October 2017
Time: 19:00 - 20:30
Venue: University of Leicester, Centre for Medicine, Room 0.02, 15 Lancaster Road, LE1 7HA
For more information or to book your free place at this event, please email [email protected].
