Unprecedented achievement due to protests on campus, and on the back of years of hard campaigning by Trinity BDS and its supporters
The Union of Students in Ireland will continue to work with Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union and Students’ Unions across Ireland until all higher education institutions have fully divested from Israel.
The Trinity Gaza Solidarity Encampment, which includes Students’ Union officers, members of Trinity BDS Campaign and other students, has secured an unprecedented win today with the college committing to working towards ‘full divestment from Israel’.
Today’s deal comes after Trinity announced yesterday that it would review its ties with Israel due to the protests on campus, and on the back of years of hard campaigning by Trinity BDS and its supporters.
The protesters agreed to end the encampment as soon as the college formally announces its divestment plans.
USI will support TCDSU to follow the divestment process step-by-step and ensure the university keeps to the agreement made today, after years of campaigning by Trinity BDS, supported by students – an agreement that was previously staunchly opposed by the college.
USI Vice President for Campaigns, and former chair of Trinity BDS, Zaid Al-Barghouthi said: “While today is just the start of the full divestment process, it is important that we acknowledge the success of what was agreed today. We are proud of what TCDSU, Trinity BDS members and Trinity students have achieved this week – this is a win for collective action and protest. The college has been forced to come a long, long way on this issue. Even just over the last week, we have seen management go from fining the SU €214,000 and making threats of sanctions against individual students, to what has happened today. And that fine is still in place currently. The local union and USI will work together to ensure these promises are kept and that the arbitrary fines and threats are quashed.
“Students all over Ireland have been calling for their institutions to divest from Israel and have led and joined protests for an end to the genocide and for a free Palestine. Trinity has realised the strength of support there is from students, civic society and the general population in Ireland, and we are supporting other unions to make sure their colleges and universities do likewise.”
The events over the last week have seen membership of Trinity BDS soar to record levels and we will all work together to see this hard fought for victory through to the very end.