Brussels (Brussels Morning) – Students4Palestine and End Fossil Gent occupy Ghent University, waving Palestinian flags, and protesting peacefully. Police arrest activists, sparking an outcry. The rector’s office stormed, alleging violence.Â
Students4Palestine and End Fossil Gent, the action bodies that have been occupying the Ghent University Forum (UFO) for three weeks, pitched their tents in front of the rectorate of Ghent University on Friday morning. Images circulating on social media indicated five students climbing onto the roof and waving Palestinian flags. The front and windows of the building were daubed with red paint.Â
How did the confrontation with Ghent University security unfold?
According to sources, the staff who wanted to enter were held back for a while. A dozen activists were arrested around noon. According to the Ghent police, they allegedly acted aggressively or refused to identify themselves.
“The students set up their tents in the car park of the rectorate and climbed to the roof. Only the parking lot was blocked by tents and tables. Free passage to the rectorate was guaranteed for all employees,” says Siska the spokesperson for the occupiers.
“A dozen students then entered the rector’s office and shouted slogans and gave a speech. They did this in a peaceful manner. Security at Ghent University tried to stop the activists, and one of the students was violently pushed to the ground without warning.”
What sparked the criticism of Ghent University’s response?
According to Siska, Ghent University then called the police. “They arrived in full gear and administratively detained the remaining students in the rectorate.” We find the disproportionate response from the university, security and police completely unacceptable,” said Siska.Â
“We want to protest peacefully and the university is showing its true face. They send the special police units against their own students. One of the students who was inside the rectorate was injured. We plan to file charges for assault and battery.”
The new campaign comes exactly a week after about 200 students entered into an open conversation with rector Rik Van de Walle. The rector was then asked very pointed questions, but the atmosphere remained friendly for two hours. Van de Walle also showed himself tolerant towards the occupation of the UFO, but clarified that there would be no academic boycott of Israel – nevertheless an important demand from the occupiers. The university has not yet responded to the new action.
Academic protests are becoming increasingly fierce, not only in Ghent but also in other cities. The Leuven students who have occupied College De Valk for the past week and a half were joined on Thursday evening by about thirty professors and lecturers from KU Leuven. Some of them are said to have spent the night there.
