WOinActie: ‘Unbelievable that the demonstration was canceled’

The cancellation of the education protest has sparked confusion and disappointed reactions. WOinActie is critical: “The right to demonstrate is a fundamental right that should not be taken lightly.”

The last-minute cancellation of the education protest has left the WOinActie group, representing employees and students in higher education, bewildered. In an initial statement, they express their dismay, calling the decision “incomprehensible.”

“The cancellation is incomprehensible because the explanation relies on vague reports claiming that an unknown group would ‘hijack’ the strike and ‘would not shy away from violence,’” the group writes. “In this way, it becomes impossible to hold large-scale demonstrations in the future.”

WOinActie has decided not to travel to Utrecht tomorrow but promises to continue opposing the government’s budget cuts “more forcefully than ever.”

‘An Incredible Disappointment’

Caspar van den Berg, chairman of Universities of the Netherlands, shows more understanding for the decision, emphasizing, “The safety of the demonstrators, our students, and staff is paramount.”

However, Van den Berg describes the cancellation as “an incredible disappointment” and finds it “especially unfortunate” that many students and staff members were denied the opportunity to protest.

Unions AOb and FNV also affirm that there was no other option: “Due to a threat of violence, the police could not guarantee the safety of the participants. If AOb and FNV had not heeded this police advice, the mayor would have prohibited the gathering.”

The unions are considering other ways to bring attention to concerns about the budget cuts.

Further Discussions

The administration of Tilburg University also expressed disappointment over the cancellation of the demonstration.

“We were ready to make our voices heard and to make it clear that these cuts to higher education are extremely unwise,” said Rector Wim van de Donk and Vice Chair Wilma de Koning.

The cancellation does not mean that universities will stop speaking out, they emphasize: “Together with other universities, we will work on alternative ways to express our deep dissatisfaction with the budget cuts.”

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