Update | Pro-Palestine protesters ‘deliberately choosing escalation’ with camp on REC
On Monday, around 100 students occupied the Roeterseiland campus field. The protesters placed tents and say they will not leave until the UvA grants their demand regarding a full academic boycott of Israeli institutions.
The first students arrived around noon at the field near Roeterseiland, known as Roetersweiland. Tents were set up and the two bridges were barricaded with large pallets. Access is still possible from the other side.
The protesters demand UvA’s transparency about its ties with Israeli institutions and companies, including educational institutions. In addition, they want the UvA to sever all ties with both Israeli companies and Israeli institutions.
The protesters also want the UvA to speak out about the situation in Gaza. “For seven months we have been witnessing genocide in Gaza,” says one of the protesters. “And for seven months the universities have pretended to be neutral and done nothing. That is why we are now deliberately choosing to escalate.”
Surrounding the protesters are students and UvA employees. There are also some policemen on the nearby bridge, but they are not intervening yet.
A few express their support by chanting or clapping along with slogans such as ‘Brick by brick, wall by wall, occupation has to fall’. “I think it is very important that attention is paid to this, also nationally,” says a UvA employee, who prefers not to be named. “I wonder how long the students will stay camping.”
Some students on the waterfront don’t care much about the protest. “It is proceeding peacefully and there is no aggression.”
In recent months, protests were held on several occasions, including at Roeterseiland, Oudemanhuispoort, Science Park and Amsterdam University College. Some students were also arrested during these protests.
Update 15:18pm:
The UvA indicates that overnight stays are not possible. If that does threaten to happen, the police will be alerted, and a report will be filed. For now, the tents and protesters will be tolerated. It is not yet clear at what time the UvA will take action. CSR president Noah Pellikaan, also present at the protest, expects it to be in the evening. According to him, the right to protest at the UvA is under pressure.
According to reports on Twitter, an employee solidarity action is also planned around 6pm to show support for the protesters’ protest.
Update 3.40pm:
Several occupiers from the Maagdenhuis-occupation from 2015 have now also been spotted on the REC’s lawn. Twin brothers Arthur and Jarmo Berkhout gave a speech while seated. Then-occupier Harriet Bergman also addressed the protesters. This was not only about Palestine, but also about student democracy.
