On November 13th at 1pm, about 50 people, including students from Trinity, UCD, RCSI, and NCAD, gathered in Front Square on the Postgraduate Reading Room steps to stage a walkout for Gaza.
The protest was supported by several activist groups for Palestine. Representatives from Trinity People Before Profit, the Student Neutrality Front, UCD BDS, and the People Before Profit national party were in attendance.
One speaker at the start said they received a text message from the leader of the dockworker strike in Italy in support of the protest, saying, “We have an obligation to change the world”. Two Trinity security staff monitored the protest, but did not engage. The speaker then chanted “Free, Free Palestine” and led protesters to the European Commission Representation in Ireland.
As the protest continued down Grafton Street, numerous onlookers nodded their heads approvingly. Two shouted at protesters for “blocking the street”.
When the protest moved to the European Commission Representation in Ireland, speakers demanded an end to the EU–Israel Association Framework. The agreement has been in place since 2000; it establishes a free trade area and integrates Israel into the EU’s research and innovation framework programmes.
Recently, the European Commission proposed suspending “certain trade-related provisions” because of “a breach of essential elements relating to respect for human rights and democratic principles”, referring to the genocide in Gaza. EU member states must now vote to decide to go ahead.
At the European Commission Representation in Ireland, protesters shouted “EU, you can’t hide, you’re supporting genocide”. Three Gardaí monitored the scene and stood in front of the door to the Commission, but did not otherwise engage in the action.
The protest dissipated at 2:10pm.
The European Commission has been reached out to for comment.
