In a peaceful garden on the premises of the University of Copenhagen, a group of students has set up a tent camp as a form of protest. They call themselves ‘Students Against Occupation’ and have set up tents and camping chairs to promote their political message. They have announced that they will remain in the camp until the university meets their six specific demands, all of which relate to the situation in Palestine. However, the protest has not only received support. Anton Brüniche-Olsen, who is also a student at the university but represents a different political stance as a member of the Municipal Council in Gentofte for the Conservative Party, criticizes the tent camp. He finds it inspired by similar movements in the USA and believes that it is both ridiculous and polarizing. “It is strange to engage in civil disobedience like this,” he said, adding that he will not visit the garden as long as the camp is there. Brüniche-Olsen is concerned about antisemitic undertones in the movement, especially after vandalism against a memorial stone at Israel’s Square and the presence of stickers in the camp with the message ‘Israel must be eliminated’. He points out that even though the camp’s official policy is against antisemitism, these actions show otherwise.
On the other hand, Emil Nielsen, press contact for ‘Students Against Occupation’, rejects all allegations of antisemitism and refers to their guidelines, which clearly condemn any form of antisemitism. So far, the university has refused to meet the students’ demands, which include recognition of what they call a genocide against Palestinians, as well as a call for a ceasefire and the lifting of the siege on Gaza. They also demand that the university withdraw its investments from companies profiting from the occupation of Palestine and cease collaboration with Israeli academic institutions. This situation at the University of Copenhagen is an example of how global political tensions can manifest locally and create deep divisions even among students.