Pro-Palestine protesters hold rally during graduation ceremonies

Speakers highlighted the University’s recent attempts to obtain a court injunction against pro-Palestine protests

Throughout the event, graduands walked into Senate House for their ceremoniesLi-Xian Choong for Varsity

by Lili Fairclough

Sunday March 2 2025, 10:22am

More than 80 people gathered for a rally held outside Senate House yesterday (01/03) to protest the University of Cambridge’s ties to arms companies and alleged war crimes against Palestinians.

Pro-Palestine speakers spoke of the University’s recent attempt to gain a court injunction against any protesters entering, occupying, or disrupting access to key University sites.

Following a High Court hearing earlier this week (27/02), the University was awarded an injunction of two days to prevent disruption to planned graduations over the weekend – this expires today.

The University’s application for a five-year injunction preventing the occupation of Senate House, the Old Schools site, and Greenwich House was rejected.

In response to these events, one speaker said: “Cambridge University attempted to undermine the students’ civil liberties. And then, they failed.”

One protester stated that the University is “terrified of the power […] people hold.”

They added: “It is the students and the educators, […] not the fat cats and their six-figure salaries who are running our University as an investment bank for genocide. We don’t need these parasites, and they know it.”

Throughout the event, graduands walked into Senate House for their ceremonies. Speakers called for “no graduation during genocide,” and asked graduating students: “How dare you receive your degree at the expense of another person’s suffering?”.

Two police officers monitored the rally throughout, standing between the protesters and the gates of Senate House.

Cambridge granted watered-down encampment restrictions

Speakers also celebrated the “victory” of “the students at Cambridge and across the UK who continue to hold their institution accountable”. They added: “Victory to the students across Gaza that continue to study despite the total destruction of the educational system.”

One Palestinian speaker at the rally said “we just want to return home”.

Speakers also criticised the actions and inaction of many political leaders, including Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump, and Keir Starmer. “As long as Israel continues to exist, Zionism will continue to persist,” one speaker said.

The University of Cambridge has been contacted for comment.

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