The graduations must go on! Cambridge students dressed in full academic regalia head to their graduation ceremonies at 'secret' venues after pro-Palestine protesters tried to stall them
Cambridge students dressed in full academic regalia headed to their graduation ceremonies at 'secret venues' today after pro-Palestine protesters tried to stall them.
Protesters pitched tents on a lawn outside of Senate House on Wednesday in an attempt to disrupt graduation cermonies due to take place there today and tomorrow.
Cambridge University announced on Friday that it had taken the 'very difficult decision' to hold the events at an undisclosed 'alternative location'.
Nevertheless pictures from today show students gathering together in full academic dress as they walked to Downing College where it is believed the ceremonies were held.
Other photos also show elated students posing for pictures outside Senate House - where graduation ceremonies have taken place since the 18th century.
Cambridge University students walk past pro Palestine protesters outside King's College on May 17
Cambridge University students head to their graduation ceremony at Downing College after the Senate House was occupied by Pro Palestine protesters
Students have pictures taken outside the Senate House in Cambridge
Staff clean up the mess left behind by pro-Palestine protesters in Cambridge
It comes as the pro-Palestine encampment was moved off the lawn at Senate House in the early hours of this morning with staff being left to clean up the mess left behind.
Read More
Now Cambridge University is forced to move graduation ceremonies after pro-Gaza activists set up encampment outside Senate House as US-style campus protests spread
Pictures show university employees with rubbish bags removing Palestinian flags and writing from the walls of buildings.
Palestine flags were draped from the Grade II-listed urn in the centre of the lawn, and a white sheet was fixed below it with 'welcome to liberated zone' written on it.
A banner was also taped to the doors of Senate House which read 'Refaat's House', named after Palestinian activist and writer who was killed by an Israeli airstrike in December 2023.
A Cambridge University spokesperson said yesterday: 'We regret that due to the ongoing presence of protesters on Senate House lawn, we have taken the very difficult decision to make alternative arrangements for the Degree Congregations this weekend.
'All students who want to graduate this weekend will still be able to attend their Degree Congregation at an alternative location that is fitting of the occasion.
'We are confident that ceremonies will be a memorable and enjoyable experience for students and their guests.'
A member of staff removes a pro-Palestine flag from an urn in the centre of Senate House
The group were removed from Senate House grounds in the early hours of May 17
Pictures show university employees with rubbish bags removing Palestinian flags and writing from the walls of buildings
Palestine flags were draped from the Grade II-listed urn in the centre of the lawn, and a white sheet was fixed below it with 'welcome to liberated zone' written on it
Staff remove writing on the walls of Senate House in Cambridge
A banner was also taped to the doors of Senate House which read 'Refaat's House', named after Palestinian activist and writer who was killed by an Israeli airstrike in December 2023
The encampment at Cambridge University first appeared outside King's College at the start of last week.
They previously threatened to halt or disrupt graduations as a 'last resort' if the university did not meet their list of demands.
A Cambridge student, who did not wish to be named, said last week that the protesters were demanding that the university 'disclose all of its research collaborations and financial ties with companies and institutions complicit in Israel's genocide and then to divest from these'.
'We will be staying here until our demands are met,' she said.
In a statement shared on social media the protesters said that: 'Disrupting graduation is a last resort which we absolutely do not wish to take, but as the University of Cambridge has refused thus far to engage in negotiations, we have been left with no other choice.
Cambridge University students head to their graduation ceremony at Downing College after the Senate House was occupied by pro-Palestine protesters
Students have pictures taken outside the Senate House in Cambridge
Cambridge University students head to their graduation ceremony at Downing College after the Senate House was occupied
Cambridge University students walk past pro-Palestine protesters
Pictures from today show students gathering together in full academic dress as they walked to Downing College where it is believed that the ceremonies took place.
The encampment at Cambridge University first appeared outside King's College at the start of last week
Protesters previously threatened to disrupt graduation ceremonies if their needs were not met
Cambridge University students head to their graduation ceremony at Downing College after the Senate House was occupied by pro- Palestine protesters
A Cambridge student, who did not wish to be named, said last week that the protesters were demanding that the university 'disclose all of its research collaborations and financial ties with companies and institutions complicit in Israel's genocide and then to divest from these'
'We have taken this action two days before Friday's graduation ceremony in order to give the University of Cambridge ample time to respond, and we will leave senate house as soon as the University of Cambridge meets our pre-conditions and holds a meeting with our negotiation team.'
Their actions come after a wave of similar student protests in the US including encampments at Colombia University in New York, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of California, Los Angeles.
MailOnline has contacted Cambridge University for further comment.