SYDNEY UNI PROTESTERS, TENTS TAKEN OFF CAMPUS

The University of Sydney on Tuesday reduced the size of the pro-Palestine encampment protest on its campus, removing tents and protesters from the previously sprawling demonstration.
As of Tuesday evening, the Muslim Students Association was the only protester faction left on the university quadrangle.
The university last Friday ordered students to leave the encampment, almost two months after the first tent was pitched.

Following that, on Monday, the Socialist Alternative-aligned faction of protesters announced they would leave while others said they would not.
One organiser said university security moved in on Tuesday morning to clear them out.
“This morning, campus security moved to dismantle the USyd Gaza solidarity encampment, once again removing students’ personal belongings and trampling on our right to peaceful protest,” said Ethan Floyd.
Once the trucks had left, yellow and brown squares of malnourished grass remained as evidence of what had been. Many tents had been empty for weeks.
Protesters associated with the Muslim Students Association and their tents remained.
A university spokesperson said the encampment had been partially removed because of compliance concerns from emergency services specifically at the top of the quadrangle.
“We welcome the statement from most student encampment representatives saying they are shutting down the camp,” a university spokesperson said.
“We’d previously informed them we needed to clear the clocktower area following compliance concerns from Fire and Rescue; as planned, we cleared items from that area this morning, with work to reclaim the lawns under way in preparation for our semester two festivities.
“Our clear-up at the moment is focused on rubbish and unattended tents and property. We continue to work towards a peaceful resolution of the encampment and clearing of space for Welcome Fest activities.”
The Muslim Students Association on Monday evening declared it would “continue the encampment and negotiations with the university”. That statement was made in conjunction with Stand4Palestine, which has been implicated with extremist organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir.