XR cancels protest march in The Hague due to ‘extreme police violence’

Extinction Rebellion (XR) cancels the peaceful protest march against police brutality that was to be held in The Hague on Thursday afternoon. The organization reports in a message that it is “shocked” by the “extreme police violence” during this week’s pro-Palestinian protests in Amsterdam and Utrecht.

“Because the situation in both cities is so serious, this is not a time for a march against police violence in The Hague,” XR said in the statement. The climate action group calls on everyone to express solidarity with the students and other activists who are dealing with “extreme police violence” and to join one of the “solidarity demonstrations” in Utrecht or Amsterdam.

Earlier this week, two demonstrators reported assault by police during demonstrations earlier this year.

Demonstration in Utrecht

Shortly after 1 a.m. on the night of Wednesday to Thursday, the pro-Palestinian demonstrators occupying the University Library in Utrecht came face to face with the police on the bridge between Voorstraat and Wittevrouwenstraat. The demonstrators were moved by the police towards Biltstraat.

Protesters who had already been arrested were taken away in a bus. According to the demonstrators, there are “more than sixty students and staff members”, according to a message on the Instagram account encampment.uu.

Chairman of the Executive Board Anton Pijpers had given them until 12:05 am to leave and the demonstrators responded with cheers and boos. When asked, a police spokeswoman could not say whether there were still students in the University Library. According to an ANP reporter on the scene, the tension was palpable.

Amsterdam

There were also pro-Palestine demonstrations in Amsterdam in recent days. Students spoke out against the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and demanded that the UvA cut all ties with Israel. The demonstrators set up blockades and threw fireworks and stones at police officers.

Last night, 32 demonstrators were arrested during demonstrations on the Binnengasthuis grounds of the UvA and on the Rokin. According to the police, it was due to public violence, destruction, assault and incitement.

After a violent evacuation on the BG site, the situation threatened to escalate with hundreds of demonstrators on the Rokin. But after charges from the riot police, most demonstrators fled. A small group still gathered on Rembrandtplein, but it soon became quiet there.

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