I have never felt so unsafe at the UvA as yesterday
Master’s student in urban history Ole Lechner has never felt so unsafe at the UvA as he did last Monday. He also felt unsafe during last year’s demonstrations, in which people called for a break with Israeli institutions. He filed a complaint at the time, but never received a response. “That is why I am filing that complaint now.”
Almost a year after the first occupation of the UvA, the activism is flaring up again. Shortly after suspending its collaboration with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, it became clear that the UvA wants to restore these ties. This is despite the fact that an independent advisory committee has ruled that this collaboration could contribute to “human rights violations, the abuse of knowledge for undesirable military purposes or serious damage to the environment” In addition, the UvA still has ties with two other Israeli universities, at a time when Israel has just violated a ceasefire and reports of dead children and bombed hospitals are coming in daily. Students have been calling for a long time for an end to complicity in human rights violations. Yet, the UvA seems to be systematically ignoring these signals. The occupation of the Maagdenhuis this Monday did not come out of the blue.
Just like last year, the Executive Board decided to press charges for the occupation. In an interview with the local tv AT5, Board chair Edith Hooge indicated that it is then up to the triangle to determine if and how they will intervene. In doing so, she shifts the responsibility for the ensuing violence. Last year it became clear that pressing charges does not come without consequences for the activists: the riot police acted harshly and in two cases it was even determined that the police used excessive force during the demonstrations between 6 and 13 May 2024. This Monday it also escalated after the Board pressed charges. I saw it with my own eyes.
Palestinian flag
I was present the entire day — outside, that is — and saw how the police used increasingly heavy artillery as the day went on, including against peaceful demonstrators. As the day progressed, the Spui became increasingly full of police vans and officers in increasingly heavy gear. Occasionally there was a scuffle, in which the demonstrators at the front could expect to be hit with batons. Once the police entered the Maagdenhuis, it became painfully clear where their priority lay: not with safety or de-escalation, but with symbolic politics. While the eviction was still in progress, the police considered it more important to remove the Palestinian flag that had been hoisted by the occupiers.
When the demonstration moved to the Binnengasthuisterrein, the atmosphere became even grimmer. Some of the demonstrators managed to enter another building there. I was standing outside on the Turfdraagsterpad and saw how we were suddenly surrounded on both sides – on one side by Romeros (undercover police) with batons, on the other side by riot police with barking dogs. Suddenly, everything happened very fast. There had not yet been an announcement that the area would be cleared or I was already with my back pressed up against a group of people, face to face with an angry Romeo. When I raised my hands to indicate that I meant no harm, he told me that I “shouldn’t have dared” and chased me with his baton against the wall. I continued to wriggle backwards, fearing a baton in my stomach or thigh. But I couldn’t manage to walk backwards. We had been herded into a narrow alley with many other people. A police officer shouted that if the people at the back didn’t start walking, the people at the front would get beaten. I have never felt so threatened.
After much wrangling, we ended up back on the square in front of BG2, where a woman had collapsed after being hit with a baton. Instead of offering help, the riot police increased the pressure by changing formation and moving forward. Stunned by what had just happened to me, I suddenly wondered what I was doing there. I am the kind of protester who commits to a cause by using my voice, by being present – not by using violence or destroying things. So why did I end up in a violent confrontation with the police? I did nothing illegal. I did not occupy a building. I did not resist. I only spoke out against the policy of my own university, in the place where I normally attend lectures.
Emplyee well-being
According to Edith Hooge, a “threatening situation” arose for the employees in the Maagdenhuis at the start of the occupation on Monday because the emergency exits were blocked and the demonstrators were wearing clothing that covered their faces. That is why a police report was filed. The welfare of her employees is therefore important to the Executive Board. Why don’t students deserve the same protection? Peaceful support demonstrators were intimidated and beaten by masked, sometimes unrecognisable officers, and cornered by plain-clothes police and police dogs. Surely this cannot be how things are done?
Why do we train students to think critically if they are then confronted by the police as soon as they put this critical attitude into practice? According to Edith Hooge, demonstrations are allowed at the UvA. As a student, I do not feel that I have this freedom, nor the guarantee that these demonstrations will be safe. Can the UvA guarantee my safety as a peaceful demonstrator? If not, there is less “room for dialogue” than the Executive Board claims. Break with this spiral of violence. Speak out against police violence. Even better: break ties with violent Israeli institutions for good.
Ole Lechner is a master’s student of urban history at the UvA and editor of the (art) history magazine Eindeloos.
