He later added there had been “sufficient notification” to grant an interim injunction to protect Saturday’s ceremony and that social media posts showed “the identifiable purpose of the action is to disrupt by making it be moved, the graduation ceremony, or as it is put, ‘forcing it’ to be moved”.
The High Court in London was told that the injunction application came after encampments organised by “Cambridge for Palestine” were set up on Senate House Yard in May and November 2024.
Mr Justice Fordham also said the court had not been told about 10 graduation ceremonies that went ahead unimpeded by protests during the relevant May to December 2024 time period.
Mr Justice Fordham rejected the bid for a five-year injunction, adding it was “a matter of significant concern” that the university’s application offered little time for potential interested parties to properly respond.
This would prohibit direct action at Senate House in Cambridge and the lawn in front, Senate House Yard, where the ceremony will be held.
