Pro-rector defends police call during student protest action

Kristian Lauta, pro-rector of the University of Copenhagen, has defended the institution's decision to involve the police during a student occupation of a university building on September 4, 2024. The incident led to the arrest of five students and Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who now face charges of trespassing in the Copenhagen City Court.

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I think that is up to the judge and not up to the University of Copenhagen.

The university has issued warnings to the five students for violating campus rules but has refrained from commenting on the legal proceedings. "I think that is up to the judge and not up to the University of Copenhagen," Lauta stated when asked about the potential outcome of the trial. He affirmed that the university "stands by the fact that it was unfortunately necessary to call the police in that case."

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The University of Copenhagen stands by the fact that it was unfortunately necessary to call the police in that case.

Lauta explained that a campus manager contacted the police early on the morning of the occupation. "At that point, I had no overview at all. There were masked individuals who had entered our administration building. So my natural reaction was that the police should be contacted," he testified. The police described the situation as involving masked individuals hanging banners from windows and a locked gate to the university's backyard, necessitating the deployment of both regular patrols and a tactical response unit.

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At that point, I had no overview at all. There were masked individuals who had entered our administration building. So my natural reaction was that the police should be contacted.

The activists, who organized under the pro-Palestinian movement "Students Against Occupation," aimed to pressure the university into boycotting collaborations with Israeli institutions. They expressed surprise at the police being called, with one student describing such blockades as a form of democratic practice. The trial is scheduled to continue in September.

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I had not in my wildest imagination imagined that the police would be called over a student blockade.