Police put an end to occupation of Drift building

On Wednesday, May 8, Pro-Palestine protesters occupied UU's building at Drift 25 at around 6:30 pm. The activists were walking in and out of the building and many planned to spend the night there. Those who did not want to do that were asked to stand by the entrance to form a human barrier. UU President Anton Pijpers showed up shortly after 9:00 pm to talk to the demonstrators. He asked them to leave the building by 10:00 pm, when it usually closes. When that didn't happen, he announced that UU would "take back" the building if the protesters had not left by five past midnight. Shortly after 1:00 am, the riot police arrived to vacate the premises. The area remained tense until 2:30 am.

Photo: DUB

The protest began around 4:00 pm, with a gathering at Dom Square, in front of the Utrecht University Building. One of the reasons for this protest was UU's choice to call the police to clear the courtyard of the city centre library, which was occupied by pro-Palestine protesters, on Tuesday night. About fifty activists were put on a bus and taken to the detention centre in Houten, but they were released in front of the building without further consequences. This second demonstration was also organised because the university had not yet met the activists' demands, of which the main one was severing ties with Israeli universities.

Dom Square was already crowded at 4:00 pm. The organisers estimated that about 300 people were at the square at 6:00 pm. They were waving Palestinian flags and signs with slogans such as "blood in our hands", "cops off campus", "we are all deserving freedom", “apologize for me”, “UU shame on you” and “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

According to security, PhD defences and other activities were taking place inside the Utrecht University Building at that moment. Only those who needed to be inside the building were allowed in. Curious people were seen peeking outside the windows. One of the protesters who gave a speech at around 6:00 pm compared the situation to the previous evening, when UU President Anton Pijpers "looked down" on the activists from one of the library's windows.

The activist stated that such behaviour would no longer be tolerated, hence today's demonstration, which should also encourage fellow protesters at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) who were having a meeting with their university's president at the same time. Another speaker, a UvA teacher who got arrested on Monday, said that their demonstration was broken up by the riot police. The crowd booed. After a third speech by a Utrecht-based activist, the protesters proceeded towards Drift.

The head of security ran to warn his colleagues that 300 angry demonstrators were marching towards the library. The police officers at Dom Square followed the crowd. By the time the group got to Drift, the library's main entrance was already closed, but the door to Drift 25, a building adjacent to the library, was not. This door is usually closed – students and employees have to access the building, which is used for educational purposes, through the library.

The activists poured in and hung a banner on the balcony, saying: "It’s time UU boycott Israeli apartheid!" Some protestors stood by the door, megaphone in hand, announcing that they had occupied the building and that anyone interested in sleeping there could do so. They also asked for people to bring blankets, food and drinks. Then, the same slogans that were being chanted at the square could be heard once again, interspersed by speeches.

Meanwhile, young people carrying groceries started to show up. Anyone who tried to enter the building with a bag of groceries first had to have the bag verified by the police. "They are not allowed to take anything illegal inside. Food, drinks and bedding are allowed," explained a police officer. "That's what we've been instructed to do." 

The situation remained this way until 9:00 pm when the university announced that it was trying to establish contact with the protesters. UU's spokesperson made no further announcements, refusing to comment on possible scenarios.

UU President shows up
UU President Anton Pijpers showed up at Drift 25 shortly after 9:00 pm to talk to the demonstrators. He said that UU is a university with about 40,000 students and 9,000 employees, whose various opinions must be taken into account through the university's usual democratic bodies, such as the university council. He asked protesters to take good care of the building, not damage anything, respect the house rules, and leave by 10:00 pm when the building is supposed to close.

Local newspaper AD Utrechts Nieuwsblad made a video of Pijpers' conversation with the occupiers:

Anton Pijpers, chair of Utrecht University's Executive Board, ventured into the lion's den by speaking directly with the protesters occupying one of the university's buildings at Drift 25. He reiterated that the university will not meet their demands. pic.twitter.com/F9Bo0pSJTb

— ADUtrechtLive (@ADUtrechtLive) May 8, 2024

The activists also reiterated their demands, expressing their unwillingness to leave the building. By 11:00 pm, the police hadn't acted yet and about 100 people were gathering on the street. 

At 11:35 pm, Anton Pijpers showed up on Drift again to give the occupiers an ultimatum: they should leave the building by five past midnight at the latest. He argued that the university could not guarantee the safety of the building and reminded the protesters one more time that they should take good care of it. Otherwise, they would be charged for the damages caused. People standing in front of the building shouted that they would stay there to "protect our students."

At 1:00 am, the "triangle" (how the Dutch call the mayor, the public prosecutor and the chief of police when they act together, Ed.) announced that the occupation was considered trespassing and they would remove the demonstrators from the building. The police stormed in shortly after that. They entered Drift 25 through the courtyard and then expelled the protesters through that same entrance. Like the night before, demonstrators were put on a bus parked on Wittevrouwenstraat. Images captured by the public broadcasting service, NOS, showed demonstrators being escorted out of the building in handcuffs.

The protesters who were standing on the street headed to Wittevrouwenstraat as well, shouting slogans like "We are the people, what are you?" The situation got tense when the buses left at 1:30 am: the police told the remaining demonstrators to go home, but they refused. The riot police then warned them that they would use violence if they insisted on staying and a confrontation soon followed. Part of the demonstrators ran for Asch van Wijkkade, while others stayed put. The riot police actively chased those who stayed behind, which led to several arrests.  

The area went quiet at around 2:30 am. NOS reports that the protesters were not detained. Instead, they were released elsewhere.

Photo: James Huang

In an e-mail, UU informs that all of its buildings in the city centre will remain closed until Monday 8:00 am, including the library. Due to a public holiday, most UU employees are off on Thursday and all employees will be off on Friday. Therefore, no classes had been scheduled for these two days anyway. The university library at Utrecht Science Park will remain open all through the weekend.

Utrecht in Solidarity with Palestine is furious with the university and the mayor for the "senseless" violence that ended the occupation and the demonstration, they write in a press release. “We, together with the Amsterdam Student Encampment, call on the Minister of Education and the Minister of Justice and Security to intervene in the repeated and cross-border violations of the rights of students, faculty and other citizens.”