‘Delft Student Intifada’ has occupied the roof of Mechanical Engineering. They are demanding an academic boycott of Israel and a public condemnation of the genocide in Palestine. They want to engage in dialogue with the Executive Board, but that has not yet made an appearance.
(Photo: Marjolein van der Veldt)
On the roof, there are six activists, while on the square in front of the main entrance to Mechanical Engineering, there are about a hundred more demonstrators. Earlier in the afternoon, they had gathered on the lawn between the Aula and the Library. After a few speeches near the olive tree there, they marched to ME. They are carrying a large banner with the text ‘TU Delft arms genocide’.
The activists on the roof have covered the eyes of the statues there. Through a megaphone, they are shouting: ‘TU Delft, we can’t keep meeting like this. We will stay here all day, all night.’ They are carrying torches and have unfurled a large banner that begins with the text ‘Impact for a dead society’, a reference to TU Delft’s motto ‘Impact for a better society’.
‘Please throw some krentenbollen to the roof’
Among the crowd below, flyers have been distributed listing the demands of ‘Delft Student Intifada’: an academic boycott of Israel and a public condemnation of the genocide in Palestine. Last week, the activists emailed the Executive Board requesting a meeting before 1:30 PM today. However, the Board, which has its offices in the Mechanical Engineering faculty, has yet to appear.
Shortly after 2:00 PM, the activists on the roof announced their plans: ‘Thanks to the more than 110 people who came. We are going to stay the evening, the night, and the next night. You are free to leave. If you come by, please throw some krentenbollen to the roof.’
Update 3 December, 3:00 PM
The likelihood that the activists will actually spend the night on the roof is very small, according to a TU spokesperson. ‘It’s not a problem that they are there now, but we don’t want them to stay overnight.’ According to the spokesperson, the activists may ‘in principle’ stay until the building closes, which is at 10:00 PM tonight. He does not rule out a possible eviction. “If they don’t come down voluntarily, it will be done gently.”
What rules does TU Delft have regarding demonstrations and occupations? In October, TU Delft updated its guidelines. You can read more about this under the heading ‘More democracy’ in this Delta article.
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