Students vow to occupy Trinity College Dublin campus 'indefinitely' in protest over war in Gaza

Dozens of students set un an encampment on the grounds of Trinity College Dublin on Friday. Picture: @TCDSU_President/Twitter

The Book of Kells will be closed to the public on Saturday as Trinity College Dublin (TCD) students vowed vowed to maintain an occupation of the college grounds "indefinitely" in protest over the war in Gaza.

Members of Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) and Trinity Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (TCD BDS) set up an encampment on campus at around 8.30pm on Friday evening. 

They are calling for TCD to cut ties with Israel and say they intend to remain on campus until their demands are met. Organisers say 70 students in 43 tents took part.

ITCDSU president László Molnárfi said the students had set up an “encampment for Palestine, demanding that their university cut ties with Israel as per BDS [Boycott, Divest, Sanction] principles supported by the vast majority of students and staff”. 

He later shared an image of benches stacked up in front of the doorway to TCD’s Old Library where the Book of Kells is located.

“We plan on staying here indefinitely, our message is there is no business as usual during a genocide,” Mr Molnárfi told the PA news agency on Saturday.

“And when our academic institution, Trinity College Dublin, has ties to Israeli companies, entities and universities that are complicit in the war industry, we must speak up.

“And that is why we are doing this. And we must speak up in this disruptive, powerful way. Because when we tried to engage with the authorities, with petitions and letters and meetings, we were met with shameful silence.”

TCD has confirmed the building will be closed on Saturday, and said anyone with tickets will be refunded.

Benches stacked outside the entrance to TCD's Old Library, where the Book of Kells is located. Picture: @TCDSU_President/Twitter

The encampment at Trinity follows similar demonstrations seen on college campuses across the US in recent days.

On Friday, the university fined the undergraduate student union €200,000 over financial costs incurred this year due to protests on campus about fees, rent, and pro-Palestinian solidarity.

Mr Molnárfi accused senior management at the university of “an ill-fated attempt” to threaten and suppress its protest.

In a statement on Saturday, a TCD spokesperson said an “unauthorised BDS encampment” is currently in place in Trinity.

While Trinity supports students’ right to protest, protests must be conducted within the rules of the university.

The university says access to its campus will be restricted “to students, staff, residents and Department of Sports Members with college ID cards only” on Saturday to “ensure safety”.

TCD also says it has obligation to protect the Books of Kells and the Old Library and its Long Room and both would be shuttered on Saturday.

“The closure of the Old Library impacts on researchers, whether they are students, staff or visiting international researchers,” the spokesperson added.

“It also impacts on the staff working there, many of whom are students themselves.”

In a further statement on Saturday evening, a spokesperson for the college added: "Trinity respects the strong stance expressed by the people participating in the encampment protest and blockade, and we support the right to peaceful protest. 

"There are also however many good reasons why the university’s policies, including health and safety, dignity and respect, must be followed when doing so.

Our duty of care to students and staff is paramount. In order to ensure we can deliver on that duty of care for our students, we are ensuring that those protesting on campus are members of the college community, so access to campus has been restricted to students and staff with valid college ID cards only. 

"We have not made this decision lightly.

"Regrettably, this will have a direct impact on our students and staff. Our libraries, Sports Centre, Book of Kells Experience, Old Library and the Pavilion Bar have been closed until further notice while sports fixtures, a concert and social events have been cancelled, postponed or moved to another venue."