Today just past 2 pm the Trinity BDS group organised a banner drop in response to Trinity’s continued ties to Israel. The action came after it received a Freedom of Information Request which detailed Trinity’s new research links with Israel and a payment to an Israeli supplier.
A banner saying “We are Still Watching” was first dropped from a window in Regent’s House and subsequently, a banner saying “TCD Still Funds Genocide”, as well as two Palestinian flags, were taped up onto the construction on the Campanile.
In a comment to the University Times, Secretary of Trinity BDS Elisa Zito expressed her disappointment regarding the new research ties stating: “It’s a betrayal of the pact made with students and of the trust that students gave College after the encampment ended. This was not the deal.”
Zito then further stated that “if College does not take further action this [banner drop] may be the first of a series of escalations to get College to listen to us”.
As members of the Trinity BDS group were taping up their second banner on the Campanile, campus security started recording their actions as well as asking some members for their student cards. Stating a concern for damages being done to the protective material in front of the Campanile, campus security only left after an explanation from TCDSU (Trinity College Students’ Union) President Jenny Maguire, who was present at the hanging of the banner. While communicating with members of the Trinity BDS group the campus security staff member was recording their exchange.
Chair of BDS Patrick Keegan confirmed that the campus security staff member asked him for his student card and expressed doubts about whether any damage could be done to the Campanile with a “little bit of tape.”
In a comment to the University Times, the BDS Chair called the remaining academic ties a “blow to the integrity of the College”.
He also stated that Trinity BDS aims to have a more “amicable” relationship with College this year and that the group aims to work with College towards divestment.
In a press release circulated after this action, Trinity BDS called on College to “implement reparative action by donating the full amount they paid to the Israeli supplier (€1836) to the Palestinian Red Crescent, and we also call on the college to release a review of its links to Israel every six months. We are organising this banner drop to build up pressure on the college to act quickly and decisively.”
