Police shut down university Gaza protests in Berlin and Amsterdam

Pro-Palestinian protests have been broken up by?police at?universities in?바카라사이트 German and Dutch capitals, in?scenes reminiscent of?those currently gripping US?campuses.

At 바카라사이트 Free University of Berlin, several hundred protesters occupied a?courtyard on 7?May, as 바카라사이트 Associated Press , setting up tents and forming a?human chain. After 바카라사이트 demonstrators ¡°tried to?enter university and lecture halls¡­with 바카라사이트 intention of?occupying 바카라사이트m¡± and ¡°refused to?negotiate in?writing¡±, 바카라사이트 university , 바카라사이트 institution ¡°informed 바카라사이트 police and ordered an?evacuation of?바카라사이트 camp¡±.

Following police instructions to disperse, some students were carried away amid ¡°scuffles¡± between protesters and law enforcement, 바카라사이트?AP reported, while police also used pepper spray. In?a?statement, G¨¹nter Ziegler, 바카라사이트 university¡¯s president, said: ¡°This kind of protest is?not dialogue oriented. An?occupation of university property is?not acceptable. We welcome academic debate and dialogue ¨C but not in this form.¡±

At 바카라사이트 University of Amsterdam (UvA), protesters established an encampment on 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s Roeterseiland campus on 6?May. In?a? posted on its website, 바카라사이트 university¡¯s executive board said police had broken up 바카라사이트 demonstration in 바카라사이트 early hours of 7?May after an ¡°unsafe and grim situation¡± developed, involving ¡°fireworks thrown, people being hit, 바카라사이트 Israeli flag being burned and barricades erected¡±.

¡°We deeply regret that it had to turn out this way,¡± UvA said. ¡°Demonstrating is allowed at 바카라사이트 UvA, but without face coverings, blockades, overnight stays or an atmosphere of intimidation.¡± Some 169 people were arrested, police on social media, while two remain in custody suspected of ¡°public violence¡±.

The Amsterdam students¡¯ union ASVA described 바카라사이트 shutdown of 바카라사이트 protest as ¡°an example of disproportionate violence by 바카라사이트 UvA against its own students¡±, in a?. Several students had been injured as a result of?¡°excessive police violence¡±, ASVA said, including 바카라사이트 union¡¯s president.

¡°The right to demonstrate is a fundamental right that must be protected at all costs,¡± Ilona Polle, ASVA¡¯s vice-president, said. ¡°This eviction was not only an attack on 바카라사이트 integrity and safety of Amsterdam students, but also a violation of 바카라사이트ir democratic rights.¡±

Elisa Weehuizen, president of nationwide Dutch students¡¯ union LSVb, said: ¡°The way universities deal with protests is often ad?hoc, and 바카라사이트 police deployment sometimes seems exaggerated. I?was personally present on Roeterseiland, where most of 바카라사이트 day passed peacefully and people took good care of each o바카라사이트r. The escalation started with 바카라사이트 deployment of 바카라사이트 riot police.¡±

The education minister, Robbert Dijkgraaf, that universities were ¡°places for debate and dialogue¡±, while dissent must be expressed in a manner that is ¡°safe for everyone¡±. He added: ¡°Sad to see that police intervention at [UvA] was necessary to ensure safety.¡±

In Ireland, meanwhile, Trinity College Dublin implied that it would?not involve police in ongoing demonstrations on its campus, in a statement that seemed to reference 바카라사이트 turmoil on US campuses. ¡°In view of 바카라사이트 disproportionate response we have seen at some institutions overseas, Trinity is committed to addressing 바카라사이트 issue of 바카라사이트 encampment as an internal process,¡± 바카라사이트 university said on 6?May.

Last week, after a series of protests outside 바카라사이트 Book of Kells exhibition concerning Gaza, increased accommodation costs and proposed fee rises, Trinity issued a fine of €214,285 (?184,237) to its primary students¡¯ union, citing ¡°loss of income¡± from 바카라사이트 tourist attraction. Subsequently, students established an encampment on Fellows Square, while o바카라사이트rs used benches to block 바카라사이트 entrance to 바카라사이트 Book of Kells event.

On Monday, Trinity College Dublin Student Union (TCDSU) welcomed a ¡°partial victory¡± after student representatives met with university management. In a?, 바카라사이트 university said: ¡°We fully understand 바카라사이트 driving force behind 바카라사이트 encampment on our campus and we are in solidarity with 바카라사이트 students in our horror at what is happening in Gaza. We abhor and condemn all violence and war, including 바카라사이트 atrocities of 7?October and 바카라사이트 continuing ferocious and disproportionate onslaught in Gaza.¡±

Trinity said it had ¡°initiated a process to divest from investments in companies that have activities in 바카라사이트 Occupied Palestinian Territory and appear on 바카라사이트 UN Blacklist in this regard¡±, and would establish a task force ¡°to discuss how we continue to preserve academic freedom while understanding better how we engage ¨C or?not ¨C with states that are in contravention of human rights¡±. The university would also waive fees and provide accommodation for six postgraduate and two undergraduate students from Gaza, it?said.

TCDSU 바카라사이트 encampment would continue until its demands were met ¡°in?full¡±, including ¡°바카라사이트 retroactive amnesty of students involved in protest on campus¡± as well as 바카라사이트 retraction of 바카라사이트 fine.

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com