News / University of Bristol
Students ‘drown in fake blood’ to protest uni arms ties
Students have drowned themselves in fake blood outside a university to protest its links with the arms trade.
Members of Extinction Rebellion Youth Bristol gathered outside Wills Memorial Building to demand the University of Bristol cut ties with arms companies.
Activists held a banner reading “Arms Off Campus” while three others had fake blood poured over them and into their mouths. The protest took place on the university’s postgraduate offer holder day.
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The activist group highlighted the university’s partnerships with Rolls-Royce, Thales, AirBus, QuintiQ and Leonardo, as well as career links with these companies, including arms industry giants, BAE Systems.
An investigation by Declassified UK recently found that the university benefits financially from these partnerships, having received at least £12 million from arms companies in the last seven years.
The action was the third “drowning in blood” protest carried out by the group as part of their ongoing “Arms out of Bristol and off Campus” campaign.
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A statement from XR Youth Bristol said the action aimed to “highlight the university’s continued links with the arms trade and consequent complicity in the genocide of Palestinians”.
During Wednesday’s action a student read out a speech which stated: “The University of Bristol claims to be committed to tackling the climate crisis, but its continued collusion with arms companies suggests otherwise.
“It is estimated that five to six per cent of global C02 emissions are from armed forces and industries, which is more than all civil aviation.
“The university maintains careers and research partnerships with arms companies, and over the last seven years it has received over 12 million pounds from companies involved in the arms trade, including Airbus, Rolls-Royce, Thales and BAE systems.
“BAE systems and Rolls Royce are involved in the construction of fighter jets used for air strikes in Gaza, and by continuing to partner with such companies, the university is complicit in the destruction of the people of Palestine.”
A University of Bristol spokesperson said: “We respect our students’ freedom of speech and right to protest and our vice-chancellor is always happy to meet with students to hear their concerns.
“The university’s association with a wide variety of organisations helps drive innovative research and improves our students’ future careers. All our partnerships undergo stringent diligence checks and ethical reviews.”
Nearby, students from Bristol Students Occupy 4 Palestine held another protest at a University of Bristol building on Tyndall Avenue.
Occupiers moved to Tyndall Avenue on Wednesday after occupying the Victoria Rooms on Queen’s Road for six days over the university’s relationship with Israel and arms companies.
Main photo: XR Youth Bristol/Esme Metcalfe
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