6 months Ago
Police Evict Protesters from Utrecht University Building
Monday evening's arrests were of 49 protestors who had occupied a university building on Drift in Utrecht's city centre. The protesters were removed by officers and loaded onto a bus before being released elsewhere. The protesters were arrested for trespassing.
The activists are demanding that Utrecht University sever its ties to Israeli institutions. Under increasing pressure, the university announced recently that it would cease its participation in a project that also involves the Israeli Ministry of Health and would not initiate new ties with Israeli organizations at this time. Any existing partnerships, however, will be allowed to remain intact.
The university had given several orders for protesters to leave the campus. The police moved in when those were ignored. The protest was staged after more than a week of protests outside the university library's courtyard.
Dutch University Scraps Event Over Protest Camp
And Radboud University in Nijmegen canceled the Bèta Business Fair for Wednesday, in the Huygens building. Since Tuesday, a tent camp of pro-Palestinian activists has been installed near the venue.
The university invoked safety concerns, saying protesters failed to fulfill certain requirements, which would have raised "incalculable risks." The cancellation was said to be "highly disappointing" for students, faculty and participating companies. Organizers are looking in the possibility of having the fair later this fall.
Last Thursday, Radboud also brought its 102nd anniversary celebration to a premature end after a protester disrupted the afternoon session in the auditorium and continued speaking despite being asked to stop.
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