Pro-Palestine activists have in recent weeks carried out disruptions at UCL careers fairs to highlight the University’s ties to companies complicit in genocide.
Rhi Skelhorn
Student protesters from Action for Palestine took over the BNY Mellon stall at last Wednesday’s careers fair in the Wilkins Building, displaying banners that read ‘Bankrolling genocide’ and ‘Fossil free careers’, as well as images of children brutalised in Gaza.
It follows a similar protest at a careers fair attended by Barclays and the Bank of America the week before on 17 October where students staged a ‘die-in’ and chanted slogans, prompting the banks to leave the event early.
Student groups have long demanded UCL to sever ties with companies complicit in the climate crisis and the ongoing genocide in Palestine.
Barclays is estimated to have invested over £2 billion in arms companies and a further $24 billion (£18.5 billion) in fossil fuels, a figure dwarfed by Bank of America’s $33 billion (£25 billion) investment, making the US bank the third largest funder of oil and gas in 2023.
Meanwhile, BNY Mellon has invested over £12 million in Elbit Systems, the defence contractor that supplies 85% of Israel’s weaponry.
UCL also has a research partnership with Cisco, the tech giant recognised for aiding in military communication for Israeli troops which also attended Wednesday’s careers fair.
Last year, the University invested £2 million in the firm, according to its investment portfolio.
The protests are yet another blow for UCL as student activists continue to hold the University accountable for its investment choices and partnerships with these companies.
An Action for Palestine activist said, ‘UCL needs to divest now.’
Addressing the University, they demanded, ‘Cut your ties with companies complicit in genocide.
‘We will keep showing up, we will keep disrupting.’
The Cheese Grater has reached out to UCL for a comment.
This article appeared in the Digestive 3