2024 University of Amsterdam pro-Palestinian campus occupations explained

2024 University of Amsterdam pro-Palestinian campus occupation
Partof:2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses in the Netherlands and Israel–Hamas war protests
Date: – present
Place:University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Injuries:9+
Arrests:210+
Damage:at least €1.5 million

On May 6, 2024 University of Amsterdam (UvA) students established a pro-Palestinian protest occupation on the Roeterseiland campus to support Palestinians in Gaza and demand action from administrators.[1] [2] This became the first in a series of pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses throughout the Netherlands. On May 7, 169 people were detained when the police used a bulldozer to break down the barricades after the protesters refused to leave.

In response to the protests, UvA published a list of cooperations with Israeli institutions and universities.[3] [4] The university estimated 1.5 million euros in damages after the first week of protests.[5]

Background

List of protests

Timeline

May 6–7: First encampment, eviction, and second occupation

On May 6, 2024 University of Amsterdam (UvA) students gathered to protest at Roeterseiland campus, demanding the university to disclose and cut off its ties with Israeli institutes and corporations. An encampment was erected on the lawn of the campus thereafter, encircled by barricades made of bricks, planks and ropes.[6] Later that night, a group of people in support of Israel sought out a confrontation with demonstrators at the encampment, throwing flares and fireworks at them. They were soon driven away by the demonstrators, while the police did not attempt to intervene.[7] [8] The demonstration went quiet as the night deepened. Most protestors at the encampment rested in tents.

After midnight on May 7, riot police and police dogs were mobilized to raid and evict the encampment. Bulldozers were implemented to demolish the barricades, and some demonstrators tried to fight back. Physical conflicts between protestors and the police took place, followed by the arrest of 169 people,[9] including a member of the Provincial Council of Gelderland.[10] At least one protester suffered head injuries,[11] while a police officer got injured as well.[12] Most people left the scene by 4:30 am.[13] Around 4 pm, over a thousand people gathered at Roeterseiland campus of University of Amsterdam, condemning the reaction from the university to call on the police for the eviction of the encampment.[14] Later on, the protesting people marched along Weesperstraat and ended up at Oudemanhuispoort campus of University of Amsterdam. The demonstrators soon took over the buildings and set another encampment inside. Paving bricks, bicycle racks, desks, planks and other objects were removed by demonstrators to establish barricades, which blocked all essential paths to the encampment. A number of supporters stayed outside the barricades and echoed the chanting from demonstrators settling in the encampment. The encampment lasted throughout the night without interference from the police.

May 8–9: Second eviction and continued demonstrations

The executive board of University of Amsterdam said in a statement on 8 May that a discussion between the executive board and protestors was held in the same morning, and another conversation was scheduled later in the afternoon.[15] Soon after, riot police broke into the encampment in the afternoon as barricades were demolished by bulldozers. Protestors inside the encampments were cornered and later on removed by the police. It was also reported by witnesses that some people got attacked by the police for now reason.

With the eviction, a number of demonstrators moved to Rokin, in the vicinity of Oudemanhuispoort campus, and blocked Damrak, a main street in the city center of Amsterdam.[16] The demonstration at Rokin continued for hours, and was ended as the police charged towards the protesting crowds. Some crowds were dispersed as being chased by police vans, batons and police dogs. A number of them ended up at Rembrandtplein, where the demonstration slowly subsided.[17] 36 people were arrested by the end of the night, while at least five police officers and at least two protesters were injured,[18] [19] though the specific number of injured protesters is unknown.[20]

On May 9, another protest was organised that again started at the Roeterseiland university campus of University of Amsterdam. Thousands of protestors went on to march through the city.[21] Three protestors were arrested by the police.[22] The university closed most of its buildings for the rest of the week.[23] [24]

May 13–17: Third and fourth occupations and evictions

On May 13, after a national walk-out which was attended by approximately one thousand students and staff members,[25] students occupied campus buildings at the University of Amsterdam. Police in riot gear subsequently ended the protests in Amsterdam after "chasing away hundreds" of people,[26] [27] and the university closed for two days after the renewed occupations on campus.[28] The Amsterdam protest continued at Oosterpark.[29] The UvA filed complaints against several protesters.[30] One protester was arrested; a criminal investigation was ongoing to determine if more arrests would follow.[31]

A pro-Palestine protest march was planned to pass UvA campus buildings on May 15. However, as an event by Booking.com was announced for this day, organisers decided to move the protest to the Booking.com headquarters.[32] Although there were no demonstrations the next day, the entrance at the Roeterseiland campus was defaced with red paint. This also happened during the earlier demonstrations.[33]

On May 17, a group of protesters gathered at a UvA building to set up a new tent encampment there,[34] which lasted about an hour and was ended after police in riot gear made their presence.[35] The group of student protesters joined a different protest elsewhere in the city, with who they marched to the Stopera, where they held a sit-in.[36] This demonstration was ended by police in riot gear as well, resulting in at least one arrest.[37]

May 18-29: Later protests

On May 25, about a hundred people held a peaceful demonstration at a UvA building at the Spui. Protesters spoke out against, among other things, Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema and the American support for Israel. They went on to march through the Rokin, Rembrandtplein, the and ended at, where a squatted building was declared the "University of Gaza", and named after Shadia Abu Ghazaleh.[38]

A pro-Palestinian protest was held by UvA staff members on May 28.[39]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Deutsch . Anthony . May 7, 2024 . Pro-Palestinian protest in Amsterdam turns violent after student rally halted . Reuters.
  2. News: Pascoe . Robin . 2024-05-07 . UvA officials defend police action in ending Palestine protest . 2024-05-13 . DutchNews.nl . en-GB . May 13, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240513133530/https://www.dutchnews.nl/2024/05/uva-officials-defend-police-action-in-ending-palestine-protest/ . live .
  3. News: May 8, 2024 . Amsterdam pro-Palestinian student protest broken up by police . Reuters.
  4. Web site: Amsterdam . Universiteit van . 2024-05-06 . Our collaborations with Israeli organisations . 2024-05-13 . University of Amsterdam . en . May 13, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240513222906/https://www.uva.nl/shared-content/uva/en/news/news/2024/05/our-collaborations-with-israeli-organisations.html . live .
  5. News: 12 May 2024 . University of Amsterdam says pro-Palestinian protests caused €1.5 million in damage . NL Times . May 13, 2024 . May 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240517150308/https://nltimes.nl/2024/05/12/university-amsterdam-says-pro-palestinian-protests-caused-eu15-million-damage . live .
  6. Web site: Protest UvA-campus: zo verliepen de eerste vier dagen van de pro-Palestinaprotesten in Amsterdam . Het Parool . 13 May 2024 . May 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240517150317/https://www.parool.nl/protest-op-uva-campus-roeterseiland/teruglezen-protest-uva-campus-zo-verliepen-de-eerste-vier-dagen-van-de-pro-palestinaprotesten-in-amsterdam~befdf2c0/ . live .
  7. Web site: Violence breaks out at pro-Palestinian protest at University of Amsterdam . NL Times . 13 May 2024 . May 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240517150419/https://nltimes.nl/2024/05/06/violence-breaks-pro-palestinian-protest-university-amsterdam . live .
  8. Web site: Schoenmacker . Irene . This is what happened last night in the tent camp on Roeterseiland . FOLIA . 13 May 2024.
  9. News: Driessen . Camil . 2024-05-08 . Universiteiten geven meer openheid over banden met Israël, maar boycot gaat ze te ver . Universities are more open about ties with Israel, but a boycott goes too far . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240508225849/https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2024/05/08/meer-openheid-over-israelische-banden-van-universiteiten-maar-boycot-gaat-te-ver-a4198332 . May 8, 2024 . 2024-05-08 . NRC . nl-NL.
  10. Web site: 14 May 2024 . Gelders Statenlid doet stap terug na aanhouding bij UvA-protest . Gelderland Member of Parliament steps back after arrest at UvA protest . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240514163131/https://www.parool.nl/protest-op-uva-campus-roeterseiland/live-protesten-in-amsterdam-minister-zeer-de-vraag-of-relschoppers-wel-studenten-zijn-twintig-meldingen-bij-persveilig-om-agressie-bij-uva-protesten~b86f603c/ . May 14, 2024 . 14 May 2024 . Het Parool . nl.
  11. Web site: 2024-05-07 . Pro-Palestijnse demonstratie beëindigt op Roeterseilandcampus . Pro-Palestinian demonstration ends on Roeterseiland campus . 2024-05-17 . 112 Nederland . nl-NL . In ieder geval één vrouw is bij de ontruiming gewond geraakt aan haar hoofd. . At least one woman suffered head injuries during the evacuation..
  12. Web site: 7 May 2024 . Eén agent gewond bij ontruiming protestkamp UvA, 125 pro-Palestijnse demonstranten opgepakt . One officer injured during evacuation of UvA protest camp, 125 pro-Palestinian demonstrators arrested . 17 May 2024 . de Volkskrant . nl.
  13. Web site: Police cart off Pro-Palestinian protesters at Amsterdam Univ.; 125 arrested . NL Times . 13 May 2024 . May 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240517150405/https://nltimes.nl/2024/05/07/police-cart-pro-palestinian-protesters-amsterdam-univ-125-arrested . live .
  14. Web site: 7 May 2024 . Politie grijpt in bij pro-Palestijns protest in Amsterdam, ook elders demonstraties . Police intervene in pro-Palestinian protest in Amsterdam, also demonstrations elsewhere . 8 May 2024 . NU.nl . nl . May 8, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240508221218/https://www.nu.nl/binnenland/6311991/politie-grijpt-in-bij-pro-palestijns-protest-in-amsterdam-ook-elders-demonstraties.html . live .
  15. Web site: Update demonstrations at the UvA . University of Amsterdam . 13 May 2024.
  16. Web site: Demonstratie verplaatst naar het Rokin: politie houdt afstand . De Telegraaf . 13 May 2024 . May 13, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240513234425/https://www.telegraaf.nl/video/965450826/demonstratie-verplaatst-naar-het-rokin-politie-houdt-afstand . live .
  17. Web site: ME stopt protest Amsterdam: 36 arrestaties en 5 gewonde agenten, Rutte reageert . BD . 13 May 2024 . May 13, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240513234438/https://www.bd.nl/binnenland/me-stopt-protest-amsterdam-36-arrestaties-en-5-gewonde-agenten-rutte-reageert~a84bc53c/?referrer=https://www.google.com/ . live .
  18. Web site: 8 May 2024 . ME stopt protest Amsterdam: 36 arrestaties en 5 gewonde agenten, Rutte reageert . ME stops Amsterdam protest: 36 arrests and 5 injured officers, Rutte responds . 17 May 2024 . De Gelderlander . nl.
  19. Web site: 2024-05-09 . 36 aanhoudingen bij protesten Amsterdam, 5 agenten gewond . 36 arrests during Amsterdam protests, 5 officers injured . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240509223833/https://nieuws.nl/algemeen/20240509/36-aanhoudingen-bij-protesten-amsterdam-5-agenten-gewond/ . May 9, 2024 . 2024-05-09 . Nieuws.nl . nl.
  20. Web site: Van Suchtelen . Eline . 9 May 2024 . Na het geweld richt de woede zich op politie, betogers én het universiteitsbestuur . After the violence, anger is directed at the police, demonstrators and the university board . 17 May 2024 . Trouw . nl.
  21. Web site: 2024-05-09 . Pro-Palestijns protest in Amsterdam met paar duizend man voorbij . Pro-Palestinian protest in Amsterdam with several thousand people . 2024-05-10 . NOS . nl . May 9, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240509223828/https://nos.nl/artikel/2519876-pro-palestijns-protest-in-amsterdam-met-paar-duizend-man-voorbij . live .
  22. Web site: 10 May 2024 . Protesten in Amsterdam: Demonstratie bij Stopera ten einde, acht eerder opgepakte betogers langer vast . Protests in Amsterdam: Demonstration at Stopera ended, eight previously arrested demonstrators held longer . 10 May 2024 . Het Parool . nl . May 10, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240510210307/https://www.parool.nl/protest-op-uva-campus-roeterseiland/live-protesten-in-amsterdam-demonstratie-bij-stopera-ten-einde-acht-eerder-opgepakte-betogers-langer-vast~b86f603c/ . live .
  23. Web site: 2024-05-12 . University of Amsterdam says pro-Palestinian protests caused €1.5 million in damage . 2024-05-16 . NL Times . en . May 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240517150308/https://nltimes.nl/2024/05/12/university-amsterdam-says-pro-palestinian-protests-caused-eu15-million-damage . live .
  24. Web site: 2024-05-11 . UvA buildings will be open on Monday, work and lectures will go ahead . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240516031847/https://www.uva.nl/shared-content/uva/en/news/news/2024/05/uva-buildings-will-be-open-on-monday-work-and-lectures-will-go-ahead.html . May 16, 2024 . 2024-05-15 . University of Amsterdam . en.
  25. Web site: Amsterdam: Police move in after pro-Palestinian protesters occupy university buildings . 2024-05-13 . Sky News . en . May 13, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240513154451/https://news.sky.com/story/amsterdam-police-move-in-after-pro-palestinian-protesters-occupy-university-buildings-13135095 . live .
  26. Web site: Amsterdam: Police move in after pro-Palestinian protesters occupy university buildings . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240513154451/https://news.sky.com/story/amsterdam-police-move-in-after-pro-palestinian-protesters-occupy-university-buildings-13135095 . May 13, 2024 . 2024-05-13 . Sky News . en.
  27. Web site: Saris . Karlijn . Willemsen . Marit . 14 May 2024 . Ook aan universiteiten Eindhoven en Nijmegen protest, besturen reageren wisselend op demonstraties . Protests are also taking place at the universities of Eindhoven and Nijmegen, and administrations are reacting differently to demonstrations . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240511233640/https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2024/05/10/studentenprotesten-10-mei-a4198419 . May 11, 2024 . 14 May 2024 . NRC . nl.
  28. News: May 13, 2024 . Amsterdam University closes for two days after violent protests over Gaza . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240514025724/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/pro-palestinian-protesters-occupy-university-buildings-dutch-cities-2024-05-13/ . May 14, 2024 . May 14, 2024 . Reuters.
  29. Web site: Van de Ven . Liam . 14 May 2024 . Pro-Palestijnse betogers in Amsterdam in Oosterpark neergestreken, sfeer is rustig . Pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Amsterdam settled in Oosterpark, the atmosphere is calm . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240511233640/https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2024/05/10/studentenprotesten-10-mei-a4198419 . May 11, 2024 . 14 May 2024 . NRC . nl.
  30. Web site: Ubbens . Charlie . 14 May 2024 . UvA doet aangifte en sluit gebouwen Roeterseilandcampus, waar ME ter plaatse is . UvA files a report and closes Roeterseiland campus buildings, where riot police are on site . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240511233640/https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2024/05/10/studentenprotesten-10-mei-a4198419 . May 11, 2024 . 12 May 2024 . NRC . nl.
  31. Web site: 14 May 2024 . Tot nu toe één arrestatie vanwege demonstratie UvA-campus . One arrest so far due to demonstration on UvA campus . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240514163131/https://www.parool.nl/protest-op-uva-campus-roeterseiland/live-protesten-in-amsterdam-minister-zeer-de-vraag-of-relschoppers-wel-studenten-zijn-twintig-meldingen-bij-persveilig-om-agressie-bij-uva-protesten~b86f603c/ . May 14, 2024 . 14 May 2024 . Het Parool . nl.
  32. Web site: 15 May 2024 . Pro-Palestijnse sit-in bij UvA verplaatst naar Booking.com . Pro-Palestinian sit-in at UvA moved to Booking.com . 15 May 2024 . Het Parool . nl.
  33. Web site: 16 May 2024 . Ingang Roeterseilandcampus beklad met rode verf . Roeterseiland Campus entrance defaced with red paint . 16 May 2024 . Het Parool . nl . May 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240517150859/https://www.parool.nl/amsterdam/live-protesten-in-amsterdam-sfeer-slaat-om-bij-uva-gebouw-confrontatie-met-politie~b86f603c/ . live .
  34. Web site: 17 May 2024 . Tientallen demonstranten verzamelen zich opnieuw bij UvA-gebouw . Dozens of demonstrators are gathering again at the UvA building . 17 May 2024 . Het Parool . nl . May 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240517151000/https://www.parool.nl/amsterdam/live-protesten-in-amsterdam-sfeer-slaat-om-bij-uva-gebouw-confrontatie-met-politie~b86f603c/ . live .
  35. Web site: 17 May 2024 . Demonstranten verlaten het Binnengasthuisterrein . Demonstrators leave the Binnengasthuis area . 17 May 2024 . Het Parool . nl.
  36. Web site: 17 May 2024 . Groepen demonstranten samengevoegd . Groups of demonstrators have merged . 17 May 2024 . Het Parool . nl.
  37. Web site: 17 May 2024 . Een demonstrant aangehouden . One protester arrested . 17 May 2024 . Het Parool . nl.
  38. Web site: 25 May 2024 . Pro-Palestijnse demonstranten bijeen in Amsterdam: verwijten Halsema en UvA medeplichtigheid aan genocide . Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gather in Amsterdam: accuse Halsema and UvA of complicity in genocide . 25 May 2024 . De Telegraaf . nl.
  39. Web site: 2024-05-28 . Peaceful demonstration at Roeterseiland . 2024-05-29 . University of Amsterdam . en.

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