Last Sunday, a few dozen people gathered at an unsanctioned rally featuring pro-Palestine activist Jackie Walker who was banned in 2017 from speaking at the university.
Palestinian Solidarity Society (PSS) partnered with the Scottish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (SPSC) to host the event where the speaker appeared via a video projected on King’s College Chapel.
A fierce advocate for Black and Jewish people throughout her career, Jackie Walker is a British-American author and activist. She was one of 12 party members expelled from Labour in 2019 for alleged antisemitism following an investigation which included her remarks about Holocaust memorials failing to encompass other genocides.
In 2017, then-Principal Ian Diamond responded to controversy by withdrawing a student society invitation for her to speak at University of Aberdeen.
Jackie Walker began her talk by criticising the university’s decision to cancel her planned talk, and for banning a planned talk with Mandla Mandela last year.
In October 2024, the university faced backlash for cancelling a planned talk with Nelson Mandela’s great-grandson after he was denied entry from the UK for supporting Hamas.
The event with Jackie Walker marked the first anniversary of an outdoor talk with Mandla Mandela which was also held on Elphinstone Lawn without authorisation and in defiance of the University’s ban.
SPSC and PSS did not inform university officials about plans of the event with Walker and plan to host annual rallies until the university apologises to Mandla Mandela for cancelling his talk last year.
When asked by The Gaudie if they would meet the demand to apologise, a spokesperson for University of Aberdeen replied, “When it comes to the use of our buildings, we reserve the right to cancel or refuse bookings where appropriate and in line with our policies,” adding, “We do however support and promote the rights of all members of our community to have a voice.”
The talk attracted a crowd of about 40 people outside King’s College Chapel where the colours of the Palestinian flag were projected, and a poster calling for the “end of apartheid” and the “end of genocide” was surrounded by lit candles.
Walker spoke about her concerns over the rise of the far right throughout Britain and the complicity of the British government in the Gaza genocide. She also spoke about the “Israelification” of institutions around the country, citing the proscription of activist group Palestine Action as an example of this.
Walker criticised Edinburgh City Council for removing Saltire-Palestinian flags to appease residents who complained that the flags caused them significant distress. She said:
“At a time when we are seeing the kind of images that should make anyone sick to their stomach, in Gaza there doesn’t seem to be any concern for the distress being caused about the injuries, massacres or torture of Palestinians.”
Towards the end of the talk, a police van of four officers arrived. Officers appeared to ask organisers to reduce speaker volume, and stayed around until the event had concluded.
The police presence comes amid recent clashes between opposing protesting groups in Aberdeen. Responding for comment, Police Scotland shared only that “officers were in attendance due to a planned protest.”
PSS members spoke with The Gaudie to share their aims going into 2026. Members of group said they wanted the university to “be transparent about their investments”, “divest from companies complicit in the genocide” such as “CyberArk”, a cyber-security company with Israeli links used by the university. Student activists also called on officials “to actually give” scholarships to Palestinian students “like they said they would.”
The PSS are feeling “more optimistic” about the new principal Pete Edwards than his predecessor, and are hoping to meet with him next year.
