A Dublin City University (DCU) Student was arrested Thursday morning on campus during a DCU boycott, divestment and sanctioning (BDS) led protest for the arrival of Taoiseach Micheál Martin on campus.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin had been invited to the DCU campus to help celebrate the opening of DCU’s new Polaris building. DCU BDS were protesting his presence because of his complicity in genocide, stated a DCU BDS committee member.
Around 9.30 am on Thursday, a group of protesters made up of DCU students and community members gathered outside the DCU Polaris Building, met with an intense Garda presence, stated a press release from DCU BDS.
The Garda Press Office told The University Times that An Garda Síochána were in attendance to maintain peace and order at the protest.
They also stated that “An Garda Síochána respects the right of citizens to exercise their constitutional rights; exercising such rights does not extend to committing breaches of statutory law”.
At 10.45 am several students were knocking on the window of the Polaris Building. After the member was clearly told this action was not a crime the Gardaí dragged the member to the ground and the Gardaí wrongly and violently arrested them, said DCU BDS.
“The comrade was banging on a window and they really unlawfully arrested him saying that it was public damage”, said DCU BDS committee member.
DCB BDS said that he was charged with section 6 and section 19 of the public disorder act and taken to Ballymun Garda Station where community members continued to show support for the arrested member.
This afternoon the student was released and has since been charged. The protestor is due to appear before court at a later date, said a statement from the Garda.
“Any Garda response in relation to evolving events is in keeping with a community policing model and graduated policing response taking into account relevant legislation and public safety”, said a statement from the Gardaí in response to today’s protest.
DCU BDS is an organisation fighting for boycott, divestment and sanctioning of the Israeli apartheid state in DCU as well as justice for Palestine, states their Instagram bio.
A statement by the DCU BDS Committee said that they were astounded by how the DCU students were treated by the Gardaí, security and the administration during the protest.
“The complicity of Taoiseach Micheál Martin and other TDs present at the event today is the real crime, not exercising our democratic right to peaceful assembly”, said the statement.
