Pro-Palestine activists have established an encampment outside Trinity College, Cambridge, in a bold demonstration demanding that the University divest from arms companies linked to Israel. This protest, organised by Cambridge for Palestine (C4P), began at approximately 5:30 pm on 30 May and aims to challenge the University’s perceived complicity in what protesters describe as genocide, urging an end to financial ties with firms such as BAE Systems, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Rolls-Royce.

The encampment follows C4P’s assertion that the University blocked progress toward meaningful divestment through a working group focused on arms investments. Activists claim that the administration has also implemented restrictive “anti-protest” policies to stifle dissent. This contention appears rooted in ongoing frustrations from C4P over a working group convened last year meant to review the University’s investments in the arms sector. Critics allege that the group has been ineffective due to limited student representation, which has prompted previous occupations of significant University locations, including Senate House Lawn and Greenwich House.

Despite these tensions, the University asserts that its injunctions against protests do not infringe upon free speech, labelling such claims as “ridiculous.” This has not deterred activists, who continue to point to historical precedents that demonstrate the effectiveness of sustained pressure; notably, recent actions by King’s College, which successfully divested from similar companies, ignited calls for a comparable commitment from Trinity College.

At the forefront of C4P’s grievances is the Cambridge Service Alliance, a coalition linking the University with leading corporations, which has partnerships with the aforementioned arms companies. Protesters expressed strong disapproval of research partnerships at the Whittle Lab—a climate research facility—highlighting its ties with Rolls-Royce. One speaker claimed that the lab’s existence was fundamentally linked to Rolls-Royce and lamented that students pursuing climate initiatives must collaborate with a company involved in military research, describing it as contrary to their “charitable goals.”

C4P’s choice of Trinity College as a protest site is strategic, built on the College’s recent controversy surrounding its investments. In 2020, it was revealed that Trinity held shares in Elbit Systems, a major supplier of drones to the Israeli military. Activists have since targeted the College for what they term “supporting Israeli genocide,” intensifying calls for accountability. Although Trinity pledged to divest from all arms investments by the end of 2025, reports suggested a retreat from this commitment, as the College’s master affirmed a lack of interest in proceeding with divestment.

In addressing these contentious issues, a spokesperson for the Trinity College Student Union underscored their role in representing student interests, stating that they remain dedicated to advocating for divestment. This stance reflects an ongoing struggle within the University community, as students seek to align the institution’s financial activities with ethical and humanitarian principles.

As student demonstrations continue to escalate across various UK universities, the actions at Trinity College mirror a broader movement aimed at reassessing institutional investments in sectors that some deem complicit in political violence. Activists like those from C4P insist that their efforts are not only necessary but imperative, underlining a sentiment: “Palestinians deserve that we stand up for them.” Such declarations reaffirm a growing urgency for systemic change within the institutional policies surrounding ethical investment.

As tensions rise and protests develop, the question remains: will the University of Cambridge respond to these compelling calls for justice, or will it continue to face scrutiny for its associations and investment strategies?

Reference Map:

Source: Noah Wire Services