Activists File Assault Charges Against Chairman of Eindhoven University of Tech Board Amid Protest against Fossil Fuel Industry Cooperation

Two activists who were evicted from the boardroom of Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) last week with the necessary pushing and shoving, do not accept that. They have reported assault against Robert-Jan Smits, the chairman of the Executive Board. He pulled one of the climate activists on her arm. But how promising is such a declaration if you enter such a room yourself and then refuse to leave?

About fifteen University Rebellion activists had settled in one of the large meeting rooms in the Atlas building. They demonstrated against the university’s cooperation with fossil fuel companies that work with petroleum, natural gas or coal.

Meetings were being held in the boardroom next door at that time. The activists also entered there. According to TU/e, this happened without permission. They would have forced their way in while security was standing.

The activists were removed by TU/e personnel, but that did not go without a fight. Images show that university employees are trying to get the demonstrators out of the door with a heavy hand. It led to a lot of pushing, pulling and yelling.

“A university administrator has no right to grab our arm.”

Driver Robert-Jan Smits is also in the room at that time. At the very beginning of the video, he can be seen pulling and dragging an activist by her arm.

According to Robin Kwakkernaat, spokesperson for University Rebellion, activists feel that they have been wronged. “We think it is important that it is known that an abuse has taken place and that a director was involved. They may say we can’t be there, but they have no right to grab our arm. The police have that right, but the driver does not.”

The activists think he should step down. “No president should be allowed to use violence against students, we want him to distance himself from his position.”

“It is not the case that everything is allowed during demonstrations.”

Yet the right to demonstrate has its limits, explains Jan Brouwer. He is professor of Law and Society. “There are quite a few misunderstandings about this, but it is not the case that everything is allowed during demonstrations. It is not a license to commit criminal offenses.”

According to the professor, demonstrations are allowed in public spaces. “But the boardroom is not open to the public. You should see this as trespassing.”

Although that does not mean that the driver can do what he wants. Brouwer: “If someone enters my house unsolicited and I defend it, that’s allowed. As long as it’s within limits. But I can’t go too far, it has to be in proportion.”

The images show that Smits pulls on an arm, but it does not look like the woman has been injured. According to Kwakkernaat, the woman has suffered a number of bruises. Brouwer does not expect that the declaration will yield anything.

TU/e said in a response on Monday that it regrets the situation. The activists invaded the building at the moment a farewell to the rector was being celebrated. The Executive Board says that the protest was allowed as long as the demonstrators did not enter the boardroom.

According to TU/e, things got out of hand ‘due to an accumulation of events’. She says she wants to talk to the activists. University Rebellion wants the collaboration with the fossil industry to stop. According to the activists, money is coming to the university from polluting companies, but it is not clear how much money this involves and what influence it has.

These images show how the activists are evicted from the room.