UCDSU Statement on protecting the Right to Protest

UCD Students’ Union is deeply concerned with the recent attempts and tactics used by University administrations to silence the student voice and infringe on our right to protest. In Trinity College Dublin the administration imposed a €214,285 fine on Trinity Students’ Union and has targeted individuals with disciplinary meetings for protesting peacefully on their own campus. In University College Dublin, the UCDSU President was removed forcefully from an event on campus where she peacefully protested the conferring of Nancy Pelosi with an honorary doctorate.

The role of a Students’ Union is to advocate for and represent students, this includes pushing the University to listen to its largest constituent group. If no significant progress can be made through official engagement and meetings, students often have to resort to direct action and protest. Curtailing the right to protest is an affront to generations of students and hinders the University from moving forward.

The tactics used by University administrations of defunding Unions, using force against protesters, and threatening students with fines and disciplinary action creates a chilling effect on students opposing the University. We cannot allow protest and resistance to be curtailed on campus, and we stand in solidarity with TCDSU and other Students’ Unions around the world taking principled stands.