Statement Regarding Today’s Events
Today, Thursday 22nd October 2026, the University of Galway called the Gardaí on nine students who were calling for a commitment to human rights.
This morning, the Students’ Union organised, in conjunction with the Palestine Solidarity Society, a successful picket which began at 7am.
This was in protest of the University’s deal with Coca-Cola, which has not been made available for public scrutiny, that gives the latter a monopoly over drinks sold on campus. Coca-Cola, through its Israeli franchisee, operates a distribution centre and cooling house in the Atarot Settlement Industrial Zone in Occupied Palestine. Further, its subsidiary, Tabor Winery, produces wine using grapes sourced from occupied settlements in the West Bank and Syrian Golan. This alone makes Coca-Cola complicit in war crimes.
Further, Coca-Cola has faced allegations of torturing, kidnapping, and murdering trade unionists in Colombia and Guatemala. They have used violence against student-workers in China. They have polluted and stolen indigenous waterways in Mexico. In India, Coca-Cola has been blamed for turning farmlands into wastelands. In El Salvador, they benefit from child labour, whilst further harming children globally by aggressively advertising to them.
Throughout the day, passersby showed their support, bringing food and drinks, beeping carhorns, and simply walking up to the picket to demonstrate solidarity. During the day, there was music, dancing, speeches, and chants. The protest was fully peaceful.
At 1pm, nine students, including SU Officers and Officers of the Palestine Solidarity Society Committee, hand delivered a letter to University President, Prof. David Burn, and reiterated their demand that human rights obligations be enshrined in any tendering process for drinks sold on campus. The University President refused to make this commitment in writing and accordingly the nine students began a sit-in protest, with the intention of staying until the demands were met.
The University then called the Gardaí and 5-10 Gardaí arrived. Under threats of criminal charges and being physically dragged out of the building, the students made the decision to rejoin the protest outside.
The fundamental point from today is that the University of Galway sooner would call the Gardaí on their own students for a peaceful protest than make a firm commitment to human rights.
The three of the Students’ Union and Palestine Solidarity Society demands are;
- A release from the current contract with Coca-Cola
- Student representation on any tendering board for future exclusivity agreements for drinks on campus
- A commitment to human rights obligations aligned with the BDS Movement in any tendering requirements
We remain committed to seeing these demands be fully met.
ENDS
