A group of demonstrators from Palestine Solidarity Tilburg (PST) occupies and barricades the Dante building of Tilburg University on Thursday evening. The police proceed to evacuate if the protesters do not leave voluntarily, but when is not clear. Activities of a science festival had to be housed in other buildings because visitors did not enter the Dante building. Protesters have put furniture in front of the door. The action group protests against the tires of the university with Israeli institutions.
The action group started early on Thursday with an announced protest march to evoke solidarity for the Palestinian population. Dozens of protesters gathered with banners.
Around eight o’clock the Dante building of the university was occupied by a number of campaigners. Furniture from the building was barricaded for doors, so that visitors could no longer enter the building. Around midnight, protesters still occupy the building with furniture.
According to a spokesperson for the university, activities of the Night University Science Festival had to be housed in other university buildings. The university has engaged the police due to the order disturbance.
Evacuation
The police are present at the building and keep an eye on the demonstration. According to the spokesperson, no destruction has been applied as far as we know and no demonstrators have been arrested.
The police proceed to evacuation, but when is not clear. The university has been evacuated twice before, because protesters occupied a building.
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Openness
According to PST, the campaigners demand that Tilburg University gives openness about its collaborations with Israeli universities and breaks all institutional ties that, according to them, contribute to oppression and violence in Palestine.
Tilburg University announced a week ago to temporarily stop working with two Israeli universities.