Last pro-Palestine march before the summer faced with closed doors

Even before the first police van showed up on Jaarbeur Square, the activists distributed flyers with instructions on how to act in case someone got arrested. About a hundred pro-Palestinian demonstrators looked for shade among the sparse trees on the square, half of whom followed the proposed dress code: black from head to toe. The idea was to be less recognisable as individuals. At about 4:30 pm, they marched towards Drift, carrying banners and chanting one now well-known slogan after another. A demonstrator led the way with a big drum, loudly indicating the rhythm.

The protest march at Vredenburg. Photo: DUB

At Janskerkhof, football fans waiting for the match between Austria and the Netherlands to start were startled by the protest march. The activists were on their way to the University Library. Some of them ran towards Drift, but they were too late: the security guards had just closed the library's last door. The activists then continued to demonstrate in front of the closed doors. After some of them left, about forty remained to spray slogans on the facade of the building next door. The group dispersed at about 7:30 pm. 

The University Library closed its doors right before the protesters arrived. Photo: DUB

Last march
This was the “last” pro-Palestine protest of this academic year, Assistant Professor Markha Valenta said in a press release yesterday, on behalf of UU Staff for Palestine. “We can see that students and employees are tired,” said Valenta. “We want to pick ourselves up and meet again in the summer to discuss the situation and our next steps.”

Once again, the demonstrators wanted the Executive Board to speak out against Israel's action in Gaza and break ties with Israeli institutions. They would also like to engage in talks with the board. After the May 13 demonstration, the Executive Board agreed to a debate, but the two parties could not agree on the form and number of attendees, causing the plan to fall apart. The activists were interested in a debate with an audience, while the Executive Board preferred a small-scale event to be followed through a livestream.

Yesterday, the Executive Board announced that its plans to organise such a debate still stand, as long as no more than 12 people participate. The activists have also been invited. “Personally, I would only want to participate if we can also shape the content and moderation of the discussion,” Valenta said. The organisation's main demand - severing ties with Israeli institutions - is not mentioned as a point of discussion.

Demonstrators spray slogans on the facade of an educational building on Drift. Photo: DUB

Partly due to the lack of a debate, tensions between the activists and the board appear to have risen high in recent days. For example, the Executive Board temporarily left its office in the Administration Building, whose facade was defaced with red paint last Sunday night. The university will report that to the police. Tonight's graffiti will also be reported.

The Executive Board stated in a press release that the demonstrators had indicated that they would walk towards the Utrecht University Building, but they went to Drift instead. The board also heard that activists were planning on occupying a building. As a precaution, the university closed several buildings in the city centre, which interrupted several classes and forced students who were studying at the library to leave the building. “We find it very annoying that we have had to take such drastic measures, especially during the exam period,” says Vice-President Margot van der Starre in a press release. “We understand that such a decision has an impact on students and employees.”

The buildings opened as usual on Wednesday.