A Cambridge Union talk by Peter Thiel, the founder of US technology company Palantir, was disrupted by a vocal groups of pro-Palestinian supporters last night - and three protesters were evicted from inside the chamber during the surveillance expert’s speech.
The event was organised by Cambridge for Palestine, the group which set up an encampment on Monday to protest the University of Cambridge’s continued investment in the arms trade.
Around 150 Cambridge for Palestine supporters arrived outside Cambridge Union’s premises on Bridge Street an hour before the start of Mr Thiel’s talk.
Cambridge for Palestine speaker Zareen addressed the protesters and those in the queue, saying: “We abhor the invitation to Peter Thiel to come and speak at Cambridge Union this evening. There are no universities in Gaza because people like Peter Thiel supported the Israeli occupation.”
Software company Palantir was founded in 2003 by the Silicon Valley billionaire. Its original funding came from the CIA, the US spy agency, and much of its business has come from providing software to US military, security, intelligence and police agencies. The data firm also has a contract with the NHS.
The company drew the ire of pro-Palestine organisations and supporters after agreeing earlier this year to a “strategic partnership” with the Israeli Ministry of Defense to supply the state with technology for its military efforts.
The speaker following Zareen said Gaza has been subjected to “seven months of relentless bombing in an area the size of a concentration camp - and still the UK supports it”.
The protesters then moved to the rear of the building and chanted and drummed through the start of the speech. The noise - recorded here \- outside could be heard inside, said Ams Halls, speaking to the Cambridge Independent today (9 May).
“I was inside disrupting the event,” said Ms Hall. “There was me and two others from Youth Demands and we were escorted out.”
Youth Demands is demanding that the Labour and Tory parties impose an immediate two-way arms embargo on Israel and an end to all new oil and gas explorations.
“Security immediately removed all three of us,” continued Ms Hall. “The three of us disrupted the talk at different times. We were told that if we continued we would be removed and we continued speaking and we were escorted out of the building.”
Ms Hall told the chamber that since October 7, 14,000 children have been killed in Israel.
“By platforming these people the University of Cambridge is also complicit,” she argued.
“The university should be calling on the government for an immediate arms embargo on Israel. It was a completely peaceful, non-violent protest and we didn’t resist being removed.”
A spokesperson for Cambridge Union said: “Since our founding in 1815, the Cambridge Union Society’s foremost principle is that of freedom of speech and the open exchange of ideas. In this spirit, we both support the right to peaceful protest alongside the right for our speakers and members to voice their opinion. Last night’s event demonstrated this long-standing tradition of the society.”
Tensions have continued to ratchet up in standoffs with pro-Palestine protesters at university campuses across the globe - and thousands of demonstrators have been arrested since the protests began in America last month.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conducted a meeting in the state dining room of No 10 on Thursday morning (9 May) with vice-chancellors from leading UK universities to discuss antisemitism on campuses and protecting Jewish students.
Education secretary Gillian Keegan said vice-chancellors need to show leadership in response to protests against the war in Gaza.
Palantir was contacted for comment.
