Prison sentence, community service and acquittal for three UvA demonstrators
A judge today sentenced two UvA demonstrators for their role on 8 May 2024 during the riots and occupation of a UvA building on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal. One received a prison sentence, the other community service. A third protester was acquitted. The three had been charged with ‘public violence’.
Protester Ran Z. has been sentenced to two months in prison, one of which is conditional, for throwing sticks at riot police and spraying red liquid with a water gun. This is less than the four months demanded by the Public Prosecution Service. She denied this during an interrogation, AT5 reports. However, Z. did admit in the same interrogation that she had climbed onto a excavator. Z. was not present at the hearing due to ‘mental health issues.’
The second suspect, Joaquin L., received 60 hours of community service for throwing a water bottle and food towards an officer. He expressed regret during the hearing. According to his lawyer, the fact that the ME officer was not hit makes the incident of a very light nature. The prosecution initially demanded two months of imprisonment.
Peike S., the third suspect, was acquitted of throwing stones and balloons filled with unknown liquid towards police officers, due to insufficient evidence. The public prosecutor demanded two months of imprisonment.
The suspects are not the first activists to stand trial for their role in the occupations. Already nine other protesters received their sentences earlier, ranging from acquittal to prison sentences of up to two months.
May 2024 was a turbulent month at the UvA. Large-scale protests and demonstrations took place against the war in Gaza, in which demonstrators called on the UvA to break partnerships with Israeli universities. The demonstrations and occupations began on 6 May on the Roeterseiland campus. Months before, there had been smaller demonstrations, including at the AUC.
On 8 May, the ME intervened at several UvA locations. Activists had set up barricades made of office furniture, ladders and stones, among other things. The ME used excavators to clear passages. During the clashes, protesters besieged the police with fire extinguishers and threw objects at the officers. The ME responded by delivering blows. Several protesters were detained. Meanwhile, the UvA commissioned external research into its own role during the demonstrations.
