Leiden
– Masked pro-Palestinian activists occupied the Academy Building in Leiden on Wednesday, preventing people from entering. The building was to host the Cleveringa Lecture, which was created to emphasize that science can only flourish in an environment where lecturers and researchers are free to express their views.
For the protesters, this doesn’t apply to the speaker or those present at the lecture. Originally, it was a protest speech by Professor Cleveringa, who openly opposed the dismissal of a Jewish colleague by the Nazis.The lecture has nothing to do with Israel, but the demonstrators—many of whom covered their faces with Arafat scarves or face masks—regarded that. The important event also traditionally commemorates the antisemitism that existed during World War II.
Students for Palestine
Early in the afternoon, a group of protesters managed to sneak into the Academy Building and seal it off. “No one is allowed in,” one of them said in English at the entrance to the building on Rapenburg that evening, as he stood tall to block access.He declined to comment further. It is unclear whether he is a student. The protesters are reportedly part of the Students for Palestine action group, which demands that the university end its partnership with Israeli institutions. Several masked individuals can be seen from outside the university building.They claim that “thousands of students in Palestine have been murdered with university support.” Those present declined to comment. “No comment,” said one of them, immediately raising his hand. “Free Palestine.”
The lecture did go ahead, however. As often happens, representatives were first forced to meet with the occupiers to discuss their demands. The so-called Cleveringa lecture was eventually moved to another location, and thus went ahead after all.
Ghost of Cleveringa
At the opening, Rector Hester Bijl also addressed the commotion and expressed understanding for the protesters. “Although we had to relocate, this event is in keeping with the spirit of Cleveringa,” she said, according to the university magazine Mare Online. The speaker, political scientist Hélène Landemore, also touched on the demonstration and applauded the masked students. “I feel a deep sympathy for them.”
Others were much less docile. Anger quickly erupted over the occupation and the disruption of the lecture. Leiden University physics professor Sense Jan van der Molen vented his anger on social media about the protest. “Unbelievable and completely unacceptable. These people don’t want debate, no nuance. They just want their way.”VVD MP Ulysse Ellian was also stunned by the event. “The Cleveringa inaugural lecture, 85 years after the famous protest speech by the Jewish professor Cleveringa. He openly protested the dismissal of his Jewish colleague Meijers, who had been fired by the Nazis. Abusing this historic moment has nothing to do with Gaza. But with antisemitism.”
Arabic slogans
Meanwhile, the students – several dozen of them – continued chanting their slogans, often through megaphones. They echoed across the canals, but Arabic slogans were also chanted. Police were present with several cars and officers, but they were only there to keep an eye on things.A guideline jointly drawn up by universities in response to previous protests states that occupying a building—temporarily taking possession in protest—is prohibited. Universities can file a report if this does occur. Whether Leiden will do so was still unknown Wednesday evening. A special committee will soon issue recommendations on collaboration with universities in Israel.
