This is what happened last night in the tent camp on Roeterseiland
On Tuesday morning, the UvA is licking its wounds after the demonstration on Roeterseiland ended with an evacuation around three o’clock in the morning, despite calls from UvA employees and students not to do this.
A tent camp had been set up around noon on the campus near Roeterseiland. During the day more and more tents were added until there were dozens of them. (Palestinian) flags were waving and two bridges were barricaded, but initially in such a way that people could still walk across.
The demonstrators reportedly consisted of students from the UvA, VU, and Amsterdam University College (AUC). In the afternoon, they shouted slogans, played drums, and held speeches.
The protest attracted a lot of media and a reporter from the Telegraaf was prevented from entering (“Every time the media lies / another child in Gaza dies”). Minister Yesilgöz-Zegerius then tweeted that she found it “inconceivable” that a journalist would be prevented from doing their work.
Balaclavas
Around 8:30 p.m., disturbances broke out when several men wearing balaclavas and motorcycle helmets entered the site with torches and a fight ensued. The intruders were forced out by the demonstrators.
A petition was started in the evening which now has more than 700 signatures from employees of various universities, including the UvA, expressing concern about possible police action, as had happened during previous demonstrations.
Information about the camp was spread via megaphones. It was emphasized several times not to use violence. The bricks previously used to ensure that tents did not blow away were used later in the evening to strengthen the barricades. According to the police, these same bricks contributed to the “violent character” that the occupation took on later in the evening.
The police kept an eye on things during the afternoon and evening but did not intervene for a long time. In the evening, a message was sent on X calling on people not to come to Roeterseiland. During the night, a mobile police unit was also on site and things became restless, according to the police on X. Protesters were reportedly using violence against the police. “Police deployment is necessary to restore order.”
Bulldozer
Videos circulated showing a bulldozer trying to dismantle the barricades around three o’clock. Protesters threw objects. Other videos show how the riot police used their batons to hit groups of students and pushed back demonstrators with their shields. They also kicked over tents.
It wasn’t until around 5:23 this morning that the police said peace had been restored. A total of 140 people were reportedly arrested.
On X, Education Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf calls it “sad to see that police intervention at the UvA was necessary to ensure safety.” According to him, universities are “excellent places for debate and dialogue.” This includes “expressing dissatisfaction and emotions” but “doing so in such a way that it is and feels safe for everyone.”
On X, many UvA employees have expressed their dissatisfaction with the heavy-handed actions of the police. There is dismay about the fact that the UvA is not sending a message about “the use of violence” against students.
