Chaos at the Humboldt University: Pro-Palestine demonstrators riot!

Chaos at the Humboldt University: Pro-Palestine demonstrators riot!

Humboldt-Universität, Berlin, Deutschland - On Wednesday afternoon, riots occurred at the Humboldt University in Berlin when over 90 Pro Palestine demonstrators occupied the Emil-Fischer Hörsaal. The campaign led to significant damage to property, since the occupied walls with slogans such as "From the River to the Sea Palestine will be free" and "Germany = Fascism". Demands for a new “intifada” were also loud. As a result, the police used 350 emergency services to clear the line -up over three hours. The occupation and the associated riots were described as a protest against the support of Israel and the planned deportations of activists involved in violent protests.

The police initiated a total of 100 criminal proceedings against the occupiers, which are determined, among other things, because of severe trespassing, sedition and the use of indicators of unconstitutional organizations. During the evacuation campaign, two police officers were injured when they were thrown at pyrotechnics and possibly pinched with urine. A total of 95 people were temporarily arrested, including both occupiers and sympathizers. The Unileitung explained that the lecture hall cannot be used for courses for weeks or months.

reactions and context of the protests

Uni-President Julia von Blumenthal defended the police operation, which she saw as necessary for the protection of the university and to restore order. The occupiers, on the other hand, stated that their action was an expression of solidarity with refugees and the people threatened by deportation. This representation of the protests reflects the violent arguments and the general escalation in the context of political demonstrations that have been observed in Germany for years. Studies show that violent protests are often due to social and political tensions and that the perceptions of the police and demonstrators can also lead to conflicts.

The incidents at the Humboldt University make it clear that the boundaries between political protests and violence are difficult to draw in the current situation. Together with the perception of demonstrations as peaceful or violent, this is a complex topic that requires political and social solutions to prevent future violent clashes.

Further information on the incidents can be found on krone.at , ZDF and bpb.de .