{"id":179038,"date":"2025-05-14T16:31:48","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T14:31:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=179038"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:27:49","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:27:49","slug":"occupys-first-night-on-campus-mostly-without-incidents-death-to-israel-banner-removed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2025\/05\/14\/occupys-first-night-on-campus-mostly-without-incidents-death-to-israel-banner-removed\/","title":{"rendered":"Occupy’s first night on campus mostly without incidents; ‘Death to Israel’ banner removed"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wednesday marks the second day that protesters were camping on the Erasmus Plaza, protesting budget cuts, university ties to Israeli institutions, ties with fossil fuel industries and more.<\/p>\n

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The encampment was erected between the Pavillion and the Food Plaza.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDaan Stam<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

A handful of protesters stayed the night, and didn\u2019t experience serious disturbances during their sleep. Sophie, one of those protesters, said: \u201cIt was a really nice sleep. There were some students coming back from partying, and they were chanting \u2018Free Palestine\u2019 which was nice.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the house rules for protests, spending the night on campus and in buildings isn\u2019t permitted. The protesters were allowed to remain the night however. A spokesperson for the university highlights the \u2018good and clear\u2019 communication between the university and the protesting group, warranting them the ability to stay overnight.<\/p>\n

\u201cDemonstrations are allowed within the framework of the law, as long as education and research are not disrupted and the safety of students, staff and visitors is not jeopardised\u201d, said the spokesperson.<\/p>\n

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On Wednesday morning, only a few protesters occupied the camp.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDaan Stam<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

'Death to Israel'<\/h2>
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The banner before its removal was requested by security.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRotterdam encampment Instagram account<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

Security guards patrolled the campus during the night. \u201cSometimes the guards would walk near the encampment, sometimes they would walk around other parts of the campus\u201d, Sophie said.<\/p>\n

The guards did ask the protesters to remove slogans. \u201cThey told us we should remove a \u2018Death to Israel\u2019 slogan, as it indicated violence\u201d, said Sophie. She didn\u2019t agree with this decision. \u201cIt\u2019s about freedom of speech. It\u2019s important to express criticism against an apartheid and occupation regime.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sophie believes that the presence of security guards did not make her feel safer. \u201cWe know that the security guards tend to collaborate with the police, who came and violated the boundaries of our camp during last year\u2019s protest. They did so by walking through our camp and talking to random students.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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Read more<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t