Pelosi facing disruptions from pro-Palestinian demonstrators during European speeches
Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s European trip faces disruptions from protesters at speaking events. During an event at University College Dublin, student union president Martha Ni Riada protested, resulting in security intervention. The incident sparked debates on Pelosi’s political stance and student activism. However, Pelosi received defense for her legislative contributions and leadership legacy. In a separate event in Oxford, Pelosi delivered the Benazir Bhutto Memorial Lecture.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi‘s (D-CA) visit to Europe has been plagued with protesters interrupting her various speaking events.
Pelosi first appeared Monday at University College Dublin, where she received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws. While Pelosi took the podium in her cap and gown, the UCD Students’ Union president, Martha Ni Riada, stood up and began yelling.
“Pelosi is a Zionist and a war criminal,” she said before security guards immediately seized her and led her out of the room. “You said that support for Israel is in our DNA. It is not. What about Palestinian women?”
I was thrown out with excessive force from Nancy Pelosi’s honorary doctorate of law @ucddublin earlier today for representing the views of students as @UCDSU President. Why does UCD continue to platform Zionist warmongers whilst silencing students? pic.twitter.com/ExqDWzsV3v
— Martha Ní Riada (@MarthaReidy) April 22, 2024
Ni Riada complained on X that she was not given a verbal warning and her arms were left reddened by the incident.
“Why does UCD continue to platform Zionist warmongers whilst silencing students?” Ni Riada wrote online.
“Rep. Pelosi should be considered one of the most skilled and accomplished legislators in the history of the United States,” American studies professor Liam Kennedy said in the former House speaker’s defense. “She has made outstanding contributions to American politics for nearly 40 years, providing a model of liberal democratic leadership that has been deeply influential in the U.S. and admired globally. Such principled leadership and commitment to liberal governance is especially important to recognize at this time in light of the challenges to democracy in the U.S. and beyond.”
Then, on Thursday, Pelosi appeared at Oxford University in England to offer the Benazir Bhutto Memorial Lecture, named after Pakistan’s first female prime minister. Following Bhutto’s assassination in 2007, the Oxford Union has hosted an annual memorial lecture.
As Pelosi spoke, a student silently approached the podium, stood in front, and unfurled a Palestinian flag. Even though the crowd booed, he was allowed to remain through her speech. Later, the activist group Youth Demand took credit for the demonstration.
🚨 BREAKING: YOUTH DEMAND DISRUPT GENOCIDE-BACKING @speakerpelosi AT UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
Warmongers like Nancy Pelosi are not welcome on University campuses. When children are being murdered, and hospitals are being bombed, we will not sit down and be quiet whilst these people… pic.twitter.com/dFwV6FwGBw
— Youth Demand (@youth_demand) April 25, 2024
“Warmongers like Nancy Pelosi are not welcome on University campuses. When children are being murdered, and hospitals are being bombed, we will not sit down and be quiet whilst these people are given platforms,” the group wrote online. “We must stand up and take action, because we aren’t f***ing around anymore.”
There was an additional group of students outside that venue also protesting throughout Pelosi’s visit.
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The Washington Examiner contacted both the Oxford Union and University College Dublin for comment.
Pelosi has long advocated a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She has also called for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign.
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