Higher education protest canceled due to threat from pro-Palestinian demonstrators 

The protest against budget cuts in higher education, originally scheduled for Thursday, November 14, in Utrecht, has been canceled. The organizers have followed the advice from the security triangle, which warned of potential violence from pro-Palestinian demonstrators. 

Pro-Palestinian protesters reportedly ‘intend to hijack the demonstration.’ Violence would not be shunned. This is stated in a letter from Mayor Dijksma to the city council of Utrecht, according to the NOS.

For these reasons, the organizers were advised not to proceed with the protest. ‘The organizer has taken this advice,’ writes Mayor Dijksma, making a formal ban unnecessary.

Chartered bus

Tom Van Hout from TSHD expressed disappointment at the cancellation: ‘I am very disappointed and I have to make a lot of arrangements now.’ Van Hout was busy preparing for the protest.

There was much enthusiasm among employees to travel to Utrecht to demonstrate against the budget cuts, which will also hit Tilburg University hard. The faculty board even arranged a bus to transport faculty and students to the education protest in Utrecht. This arrangement now needs to be canceled.

Frustrated

Second-year Global Law student Claudia Schroën also planned to protest in Utrecht. ‘I understand why it is cancelled, but I am also extremely frustrated. I regret that the demonstration is now canceled because a group of people have no respect for others who also want to demonstrate and thereby stand up for their own interests,’ she responded disappointedly.

The national protest was to be organized by the FNV, the Algemene Onderwijsbond (General Education Union), and the National Student Union.

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