Dublin campus students set up Palestine solidarity encampment
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The President of the Trinity College Dublin student union says the students demand the university sever any relationships it has with "Israel".
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Pro-Palestinian banners displayed at Trinity College Dublin after students set up an encampment, demanding that their university cut ties with "Israel". (Social media)
Pro-Palestinian students at Ireland's prestigious Trinity College Dublin university staged Saturday an on-campus protest against "Israel's" genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, after barricading the main entrance to the institute.
Students described the protest, which began Friday, as a "solidarity encampment with Palestine," echoing similar protests on US campuses.
Dozens of students set up tents on one of the main squares at the university, which is a Dublin tourist attraction, and piled benches in front of a library that contains the famous Book of Kells medieval manuscript.
Students at Trinity College Dublin have set up an encampment for Palestine, demanding that their university cut ties with Israel as per BDS principles supported by the vast majority of students and staff. 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸 @TrinityBDS @tcdsu @tcddublin pic.twitter.com/Uw44FjLmaJ
— László Molnárfi (SU) (@TCDSU_President) May 3, 2024
Laszlo Molnarfi, president of the institution's student union, told Irish public broadcaster RTE that the students demand the university sever any relationships it has with "Israel".
"The Book of Kells is now closed" for an indefinite period, Molnarfi posted on X, adding, "No business as usual during a genocide."
The Book of Kells is now closed indefinetly. No business as usual during a genocide. @tcddublin cut ties with the genocidal state of Israel! pic.twitter.com/LZ31xcvtYt
— László Molnárfi (SU) (@TCDSU_President) May 3, 2024
Security staff closed the campus gates, which are usually open to the public, "to ensure safety", the university said in a statement.
It added that there was an "unauthorised" encampment on the grounds.
"While Trinity supports students' right to protest, protests must be conducted within the rules of the university."
Earlier in the week, the student union was fined 214,000 euros ($230,000) by the university for loss of tourist revenue after disruptive protests this year over student fees, rent, and the war on Gaza.
It is noteworthy that the Palestinian Student Movement on Thursday called on all forces, unions, and students worldwide to engage in and escalate the global student uprising against "Israel's" genocidal campaign in Gaza.
In a statement, the student movement reaffirmed its commitment to the struggle for national liberation, starting from the most urgent goal, which is to stop the genocide against the residents of Gaza, and leading to achieving freedom, independence, and the right of return.
The movement expressed gratitude to the free students in all universities worldwide who have risen against genocide, aggression, and crimes against humanity in occupied Palestine.
The movement further condemned the suppression, arrests, and incitement they faced by law enforcers.
Read more: Pro-Palestinian students in US may be surveilled off-campus: Axios
