A protest against higher education budget cuts meant to take place in Utrecht on Thursday has been cancelled.
According to NOS, Utrecht’s mayor, police, and the public prosecutor have received “concrete information” that showed “that a pro-Palestine organisation intends to hijack the demonstration”. The organisation was not publicly named. University staff and students from Groningen were set to attend tomorrow’s demonstration.
The mayor said that she is worried about this development where “there are people who are forcing others to silence their right to protest and free speech by the threat of violence”, especially “in a time where expressing your opinion is of great importance and be allowed to differ of opinion.” She regrets that the protest couldn’t take place.
This decision comes in the wake of the Ajax-Maccabi football match which was surrounded by violence. Fans of the Israeli football team were spotted attacking Amsterdam locals and setting Palestinian flags on fire. Subsequently, it was the Maccabi fans themselves who were then attacked and chased in the capital’s streets.
Thursday’s protest was being organised by the FNV, AOb, and WOinActie, who also organised the first protest. This protest was also meant to be against the budget cuts of one billion euros, that the current Dutch government has implemented against universities, including the University of Groningen. University staff and students say these cuts have a significant consequence on the quality of research and education. The board of the RUG had said that they would also be present.
There is also a petition against the budget cuts which you can sign here.
A solidarity rally planned to take place in Groningen tomorrow appears to still be going ahead.
