Police intervened during Nancy Pelosi's speech at the Oxford Union on Thursday, removing two pro-Palestine protesters who disrupted the event by waving Palestinian flags.
The incident occurred shortly after 6 pm, prompting Thames Valley Police to escort the protesters out of the venue while the audience inside applauded.
Mrs. Pelosi, the former US Speaker of the House, was addressing the chamber when the disruption took place. Despite attempts to drown out the chants with her microphone, the protesters continued to voice their opposition. Mrs. Pelosi emphasized the need for peace in her speech, urging both sides to agree to it.
The protesters, affiliated with the activist group Youth Demand, criticized Mrs. Pelosi's perceived support for what they described as "genocide" in Gaza. They shared a video of the protest on social media, asserting that "warmongers" like Mrs. Pelosi were not welcome on university campuses.
Prior to the disruption, approximately 250 students had gathered outside the Union, chanting slogans in support of Palestine and condemning Israel's actions. These chants persisted even after the protesters were removed from the venue.
Mrs. Pelosi was at the university to participate in events organized by the Oxford Union and OxfordSpeaks, an international relations society. The disruption occurred during her Benazir Bhutto memorial lecture, where she was supporting a motion alongside journalist Oli Dugmore.
The two protesters, though escorted out by police, were not arrested. One of them, Rosy Wilson, accused Mrs. Pelosi of being complicit in genocide and emphasized the need for accountability for civilian casualties in Gaza.
This incident adds to a series of protests against the war in Gaza, echoing similar demonstrations on American college campuses. The protesters in Oxford borrowed chants from other rallies, emphasizing their demand for disclosure and divestment.
In response to the disruption, a spokesperson for the Oxford Union reiterated the organization's commitment to freedom of speech and peaceful protest. They confirmed that security measures were implemented to address the incident within the chamber. Photo by Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia commons.