Support for Palestine during teach-in in Sanders Building

To show support for Palestine, a teach-in took place in the Sanders Building on Friday. Various speakers talked about the situation in the Palestinian territories. The afternoon was organised by OccupyEUR, Erasmus School of Colour, Palestine Solidarity Rotterdam and EUC Collxctive, which together constitute the EUR4Palestine Coalition. This coalition is calling for the University to show solidarity with the Palestinian people.

A group of students and staff met at around 12 noon for a teach–in, a protest in the form of a talk on Palestine. After the group had gathered in the Food Plaza, it was split into two. The two groups made their way to the Sanders Building via different routes. One of the groups entered the building via the emergency exit.

As the students entered via the emergency exit, security intervened. One of the students was grabbed by the collar. By that time, the majority were already inside. “Forget it, they’re already inside”, said a security guard. “Go back to your games.” After that, things remained calm. The organisers of the teach-in laid down a number of house rules. For example, participants were asked to treat each other and the venue with respect, and not to distribute photos of each other without consent. They were not allowed to talk to the police or to Powned either.

Palestinian flags had been hung in the foyer of the Sanders Building. And a keffiyeh, a traditional Palestinian headdress and symbol of Palestinian resistance, was also draped over a railing. Several students were wearing a keffiyeh or had Palestinian flags with them.

Various speakers gave talks about Palestine, the oppression of Palestinians and the current conflict. The first speaker (on the photo) said that she counts her time outside Palestine in wars and that she has now lived outside Palestine for five wars, or twelve years. During the teach-in, many slogans, such as ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’, were chanted.

The coalition is calling, among other things, for the University to condemn war crimes by Israel and to break ties with Israeli universities, an academic boycott. Spokesperson Pjotr says that these requirements are non-negotiable. “We are witnessing a genocide. A half measure is a half genocide and that is not acceptable.” He explains that these measures were also taken when Russia invaded Ukraine. “The first thing that happened was the breaking of ties with Russian universities. In that case there was a show of support for Ukraine, we want that same support to be shown for Palestine.”

Security staff were present during the teach-in. At the entrance to the Sanders Building people were only allowed in on presentation of a student or staff ID card. A number of interested parties from outside the university were not allowed in.