Pro-Palestinian protesters stormed the university • Stayed at home out of fear • Don’t understand the criticism
Örebro University was stormed on Wednesday by around ten pro-Palestinian demonstrators.
They shouted “genocide” and put up anti-Semitic posters.
– It is very serious and unsafe, says Erik Nilsson, head of security at Örebro University.
In the middle of a labor market fair on Wednesday, around ten protesters stormed into Örebro University. According to security chief Erik Nilsson, the protesters shouted slogans such as “no Nazis in our schools” and they claimed that the university was behind genocide.
– I think it is very serious and it was not a pleasant atmosphere, he says.
Incitement against ethnic group
The demonstrations were directed at the companies Saab and Nammo’s stands and lasted for twenty minutes – before the police could break in.
– During the actions, posters were also put up with the text “from the river to the sea”. It is directly offensive and reported as incitement against a ethnic group, says Erik Andersson.
The university has also reported the incident as a violation of the Public Order Act and illegal posting. One of the protesters is the student Mohamad Amro, who is studying law and is said to be one of the driving forces.
When the newspaper Nerikes Allehanda asked how he sees the action being considered disruptive, he replies:
– Disturbing – for whom? We had two companies that create weapons and robots used in the war in Gaza at a job market fair at Örebro University. We believe that those companies contribute to genocide, he says.
Stayed at home out of fear
Earlier in the spring, a tent demonstration took place outside the university and the facade was graffitied. A handful of students and teachers of Jewish origin chose not to be at the university, fearing the protesters.
– We do not want any Jew to be afraid just because we are going against Israeli soldiers. The students at Örebro University are great students who stand up for human rights, he says.
And Wednesday’s incident believes security manager Erik Nilsson is not the last.
– We have tried to have a dialogue, but it is not a viable path. It is now more about increasing security further and working even closer to the police, he says.