Video and photos: Copenhagen University students stage an open-ended sit-in and erect more than 40 tents on campus.

Students at the University of Copenhagen began an open-ended sit-in on campus Monday, following similar protests at prestigious American universities, in solidarity with Palestine and in condemnation of the Israeli war on Gaza. Also on Monday, pro-Palestinian sit-ins were set up at Cambridge and Oxford universities in Britain, according to CNN, where protesters are also demanding that their universities sever all ties with Israel. Back in Copenhagen, the BT news site described the sit-in as a peaceful gathering, similar to a festival but without music or alcohol. Some students were even studying for exams, and overall, the atmosphere was very peaceful, according to BT.

Continue reading the article after watching the video.

According to the group organizing the sit-in, "Students Against the Occupation," they have been campaigning since 2021 for the University of Copenhagen to "withdraw its investments of one million kroner from companies operating in illegal settlements in Palestine." They told the source, "We can no longer be satisfied with cautious dialogue that does not lead to concrete action. Therefore, we are joining the global student movement for Palestine, which is demanding that educational institutions worldwide assume their responsibility in this matter, as they cannot remain apolitical." It is unknown how long the demonstration will last.

The Palestine UCPH organization, via its X website, questions why the University of Copenhagen condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine two years ago, but will not take similar action regarding the situation in the Middle East. Two years ago, Danish universities issued a joint press release stating that they had suspended cooperation with Russia and Belarus following the invasion of Ukraine. More recently, specifically on Monday, the University of Copenhagen published a statement on its X website that read:

• The university administration is not permitted, nor is it entitled, to express an opinion on behalf of the university's staff and students on political matters, including the ongoing conflict.

The BT newspaper website states that the newspaper tried to get a comment from University of Copenhagen advisor Henrik Wegener about the difference between the two conflicts, but they have not yet received a response.

Continue reading the article after the photos.

Photo by Maher Hashash for Denmark 24

Six demands from the protesting students at the University of Copenhagen

The protesting students announced six demands of the University of Copenhagen administration, namely that the university should do the following:

• To recognize and condemn the ongoing genocide and to call for an immediate ceasefire and the lifting of the blockade on Gaza.
• They withdrew their investments from companies that profit from or are complicit in the occupation of Palestine.
• Providing full financial transparency regarding its investments.
• Terminate purchase agreements with companies that profit from or are complicit in the occupation of Palestine.
• Commitment to academic boycott by ending institutional cooperation with Israeli academic institutions.

The student environment is divided between supporters and opponents.

The university's student council supports the tent encampment on campus, although there are differing opinions on the matter at the University of Copenhagen. The Studenterrådet, a student association at the University of Copenhagen, supports the move, stating in a comment sent to TV2 that it is the students' "right" to express their dissatisfaction with the university by setting up a tent camp: "We in the student council believe that every student has the right to use peaceful means to draw attention to any issue concerning the university, the surrounding community, and the world of which we are a part," according to a statement by Student Council President Andreas Nolsøe Jacobsen. On the other hand, the student political association takes a different stance. Frit Forum København wrote on Facebook that they strongly distance themselves from the tent camp: "Our hearts bleed for all those suffering and losing loved ones in the terrible war between Israel and Hamas. We support a two-state solution and hope for a lasting peace between two sovereign states that can coexist. But the university is a place for free debate and the democratic exchange of opinions, not barricades." And the occupation. We are against (the occurrence of) American conditions at the University of Copenhagen.“.

University of Copenhagen categorically refuses: it will not happen.

The University of Copenhagen held a dialogue with the students who set up tents on campus on Monday, the university told BT. The students are staging a form of protest against the university for investing in companies that “profit from or are complicit in the occupation of Palestine.” The university declined to comment further on the matter, according to the source.

Copenhagen University's response to the protesters' tent encampment was clear: the university will not comply with the protesters' demands for the university to boycott institutional cooperation with Israeli academic institutions. The university stated that researchers at Copenhagen University enjoy research freedom and decide for themselves with whom they cooperate, in accordance with the guidelines set by the government. At the same time, the university announced that students are welcome to express their position on the conflict – also on university grounds – but the university expects the protesters to observe the general academic principles of the university setting: seeking dialogue, not conflict; making room for viewpoints other than their own; and seeking information through discussion.

“This is what you should do if you are arrested.”

The organizers distributed several leaflets during the sit-in, including a booklet entitled “What you should do if you are arrested.”.

Police visit the site of the sit-in

Copenhagen police visited the protesting students, but had not taken any action on the situation as of the time of writing this report.

Disrupting education must have consequences

Heidi Bank, the education spokesperson for the Liberal Party (the ruling party), stated that if a pro-Palestinian demonstration at the University of Copenhagen leads to the cancellation of classes, the offending students must be excluded. She expressed concern about how far the very unfortunate conflict in the Middle East has now spread to Danish universities, according to Ritsau.