A message from the Executive Board about the Wijnhaven demonstration and occupation
On Tuesday 6 May our university was the scene of an unscheduled demonstration and occupation at Campus The Hague. We understand that this incident and its consequences have shaken both the university and the wider community. We look back at the events and their effects.
The events
Pro-Palestine protesters gathered in our Wijnhaven building yesterday afternoon. They chanted slogans and unfurled banners. The majority of them left the building after a short while, but a small group barricaded themselves in on the third floor. A large group of demonstrators had also gathered in the street outside the building.
The police arrived at the scene early because the Wijnhaven protest began with an unscheduled demonstration in the street. The university’s Wijnhaven building is in an area where many government agencies are located, and the police there are extra alert to demonstrations for which prior notice has not been provided.
Some group members wore face coverings and cut off access to and barricaded doors and emergency exits at Wijnhaven. This was not only against our house rules but also posed a potential risk to the safety of the many students and staff still in the building. Their safety could no longer be guaranteed.
In accordance with our house rules, the university asked everyone present to leave the building. This went calmly, and everyone was able to leave the building independently and of their own accord. This also applies to the majority of demonstrators who were in the building. The small group of occupiers who refused to do so were asked multiple times to leave Wijnhaven. They were then ordered to leave (‘vorderen’), also standard procedure, after which the university had no choice but to hand over control of the building to the police. This is also in accordance with the rules for occupations. When the police had almost reached the occupiers, the occupiers fled the building through the emergency exits and were stopped by the police on the street outside and later arrested.
Effects
Wijnhaven opened as usual this morning but the events in The Hague have had a big impact on students and staff. We are currently assessing the damage inflicted on the building by the occupiers; this will need repairing. Many people had to leave Wijnhaven in a rush yesterday, leaving personal possessions behind. Students and staff say they were shocked by the intimidating atmosphere during the demonstration and occupation. The media also reported on the events in and around Wijnhaven.
The Executive Board cannot condone the way the demonstrators tried to draw attention to the situation in the Middle East. This caused damage to the building, and the teaching and other activities had to be cancelled for a day. The Executive Board is also shocked by the confrontations in the street between some of the demonstrators and the police. The police detained several demonstrators on suspicion of vandalism. Demonstrations are always permitted within our university community, but our house rules must be followed to ensure demonstrations proceed in a safe and orderly fashion.
Support teams in The Hague on Thursday
Staff who want to talk about their experience can contact their manager or the FGGA Workplace Support Team.
Students can contact the Student Support Team and PopCorner The Hague
The Workplace Support Team (for staff) and the Student Support Team (for students) will be present on the second floor of the Wijnhaven building, by the restaurant, at the counter on the left from 10.00 to 12.00 on Thursday 8 May.
Committee
We are deeply dismayed at the loss of life in the Israel-Gaza conflict. A university committee is currently looking into our collaborations. We need to be scrupulous about this, and the Executive Board will reach a decision based on the committee’s advice.
We want to thank everyone who worked in front of and behind the scenes yesterday to keep our community safe. Everyone should be free and safe to work and study on our campus.