FNV union delivered the red vests that were intended to be distributed among the protestors in Utrecht to Wageningen. Photo Resource Despite Mayor Sharon Dijksma’s call on protestors to stay away, students will take to the streets of Utrecht today to protest the planned budget cuts in education and research. Protests are also taking place elsewhere in the country, for example, near the House of Representatives. A walk-out is to take place in Wageningen.
The student protest in Utrecht is organised by local student unions and political youth organisation ROOD. The protest is not prohibited, but that was unclear yesterday when the National Student Union LSVb provided tips on protestors’ rights in case of arrest on Instagram. ‘We expect no issues now’, said LSVb chair Abdelkader Karbache this morning.
The mayor of Utrecht calls on protestors to stay away. Her spokesperson: ‘We are gravely concerned over the sentiments that may arise if groups come to demonstrate today. We call on everyone to remain calm, and we will respond appropriately to (spontaneous) actions.’
New demonstration
The large demonstration that was planned for today and was expected to draw thousands, was cancelled by the organisers at Dijksma’s behest. She claimed there were indications that violent pro-Palestine protesters intended to hijack the demonstration.
The unions FNV and AOb and their co-organisers (including the LSVb) aim to plan a new demonstration soon, which is to take place before the House of Representative debate on the national budget for research and education in the week of 26 November.
Walk-outs
In addition to those in Utrecht, there are also acts of protest elsewhere in the country. Protest organisation WOinActie, which mobilises researchers and teachers against government policy, reports that there are walk-outs in Amsterdam, Leiden, Tilburg, Nijmegen and elsewhere. A walk-out in Wageningen starts at 13.00 hrs from Forum.
FNV delivered a box full of red vests to Forum in Wageningen today. The vests were intended for distribution among the protestors in Utrecht today but can now be worn during the walk-out. The Wageningen WhatsApp group that was created for the protest shares protest songs to be sung during the walk-out.
A delegation of protestors will speak with members of the House at 13.00 in The Hague. One of these speakers is Caspar van den Berg, chair of the Universities of the Netherlands. WUR colleagues have booked Orion 3031 and 3032 for a joint viewing of the livestream.
Blessing in disguise
Van den Berg was milder on the cancellation than others were. ‘It is incredibly disappointing for the thousands of people wanting to make themselves heard on the disastrous budget cuts in education and science’, he says in a statement, but also: ‘Of course I understand the local security triad’s advice and the organisers’ decision. The safety of our protestors, students and employees comes first.’
Perhaps the cancellation will serve to increase the willingness to protest, Amsterdam professor Rens Bod of WOinActie speculates. ‘This may well be a blessing in disguise.’