On May 7, 2024, police used teargas, a bulldozer, and batons to disperse students who had established a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Amsterdam (UvA).
On May 6, a group of students set up an encampment at UvA’s Roeterseiland campus to express solidarity with the people of Palestine and to protest UvA’s relationships with Israeli institutions. The students contend that the protest was peaceful. According to a statement by the university, while the protest began peacefully, the situation evolved over the evening of May 6, with violent incidents, including the throwing of fireworks, people being hit, and the Israeli flag being set on fire.
After Amsterdam’s mayor and police came to speak with the student protesters, some but not all left the encampment. The police, Public Prosecutor, and Mayor then made the decision to remove the remaining protesters.
Around 3am on May 7, riot police moved in. They used a bulldozer to break up the encampment. Videos from the scene show the bulldozer pushing personal possessions. One protester climbed onto the bulldozer in an apparent attempt to stop it. The videos also show police violently arresting protesters and beating them with batons, as well as a protester spraying police with a fire extinguisher. Throughout the event, students chanted “We are peaceful, what are you?” and “Stop attacking us.”
Around 140 students and staff were arrested, and some protesters reportedly sustained injuries that required hospital visits.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about violence on campus, including the disproportionate use of force by police while dispersing student protesters. While state authorities have the responsibility to maintain order and prevent disruption, they must refrain from the disproportionate use of force and endangerment of civilians. Students too must refrain from violence, especially on campus, and respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression, and university authorities must take reasonable measures to ensure safe living conditions for students. In addition to harm to the immediate victims, violence on campus undermines academic freedom and democratic society generally.
Sources:
https://apnews.com/article/europe-campus-protests-gaza-amsterdam-university-8991272e2395bf14e97baf6a0fde7657
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/dutch-police-end-pro-palestinian-demonstration-amsterdam-university-2024-05-07/
https://www.aljazeera.com/program/newsfeed/2024/5/9/dutch-police-bulldoze-camp-to-break-up-anti-gaza-war-student-protest
https://theamsterdammer.org/2024/05/13/news/a-week-of-protests-police-brutality-and-solidarity-at-uva/
https://www.dutchnews.nl/2024/05/uva-officials-defend-police-action-in-ending-palestine-protest/
https://www.erasmusmagazine.nl/en/2024/05/08/police-break-up-tent-camp-at-university-of-amsterdam-125-protesters-arrested/
https://www.uva.nl/shared-content/uva/en/news/news/2024/05/occupation-of-roeterseiland-campus-by-police-ended-overnight.html