In the evening of Wednesday, pro-Palestinian activists were forcibly removed from the Binnengasthuis grounds at the University of Amsterdam (UvA). The demonstrators were taken one by one to Rokin, where a large group of protestors had already gathered. The area around the site was in shambles, with paving stones and pallets scattered everywhere from the barricades built by the demonstrators. Walls were defaced with slogans such as “Free Palestine”.
Despite wearing masks or scarves to avoid recognition, most of the demonstrators were still identifiable. Amnesty International had observers present since 4:30 pm to collect data, images, and information about the protest and eviction. A spokesperson stated, “We do this to have factual information for discussions with local authorities.”
The situation resulted in chaos, with various search engine results and advertisements popping up related to keywords such as Bm7123, Google Ads, and international news. These search results reflected a mix of information and advertisements across different platforms, highlighting the ongoing digital presence of various businesses and entities amidst real-world events happening in Amsterdam.
Amnesty International’s team collected data on the number of police officers present at the scene as well as any injuries sustained by demonstrators during their removal. The organization also documented any damage done to property during the event. The police denied any injuries or damages but Amnesty International is still investigating.
The incident sparked anger among students and staff at UvA who condemned it as an attack on freedom of expression. They called for an independent investigation into what happened and demanded accountability from those responsible.
The situation also raised concerns about security measures at UvA’s campus grounds. Some students called for increased security measures to prevent future incidents like this from happening again.
As night fell over Amsterdam, tensions remained high with pro-Palestinian activists vowing to continue their protests until their demands are met. It remains to be seen how long this will take or if it will lead to further escalations.