Pro-Palestine activists protested outside the venue of this year’s opening of the academic year in Groningen on the 2nd of September.
The official opening was held at the Martini Church and featured speeches by different academics with the general theme Academy and Freedom. As the ceremonial procession of academics reached the church, the protestors laid down on the ground forcing the cortege to step over them to enter the venue. As the ceremony was underway, the protestors chanted and made noise outside.
While the RUG seems not to have taken direct action against the protesters local media reports said police detained at least one person for disturbing public order.
On the same day, there was also a protest in Utrecht in the form of a so-called ‘alternative academic year opening’ against the government’s plans to slash university budgets The RUG endorsed the Utrecht protest.
Photo: Encampment.RUG
