We will not be silenced

After a very concerning day, during which the demonstration has been de facto canceled by the triangle of the municipality Utecht, the mayor of Utrecht, and the police, we are here to report on what 0.7 has observed, advises, and will do themselves.

In our previous statement we have made clear that these budget cuts are an attack on the democratic pillar that is academia (higher education and science). We issued a warning that democratically deficient institutions will fall, and that the right to protest is currently in danger at the universities. Again, we do not accredit any validity to the claims of ‘hijacking’ protesters who do ‘not shun violence’. We found the police to be evasive, and we stand by our previous statement. What we want to add is that the correct process of representation and decision making by the union was disturbed because the cancellation of the protest has been leaked to the press. This has disabled the organizing coalition to go through the proper channels of decision making, and put us in crisis-communication mode for the entire day. We do NOT agree with the cancellation of the protest, this was not our decision. It also shows that there is no way to untangle the budget cuts from the repression palestine protesters have faced. Silence on the one issue, will not give us leverage over the other, it will just take us hostage.

The organizing coalition has decided upon an alternative path, which we respect and subscribe to, we have also signed their statement, and we wish to keep cooperating. At the same time we wish to fight for our civil rights, the right to demonstrate, and against the far-right government. Our members will join tomorrow’s protest, and we will be visible. However, we want to be clear that we cannot call upon people to join these demonstrations, as they are now no longer backed by the unions. Activists know that this means a new dynamic, new risks, and you need to prepare differently.

We call upon the triangle to take responsibility for their choices. In our view, a peaceful protest has been canceled. They should refrain from criminalizing protesters who will show up regardless, and should not beat down peaceful demonstrations. To those who will demonstrate tomorrow, we still have to resist these budget cuts, and now we also have to protest our right to demonstrate. We are peaceful, but we will never be intimidated into silence.