Protesters set up Gaza encampments at two more B.C. universities | 24CA News
Pro-Palestinian protesters have arrange encampments at two extra British Columbia universities, as a wave of demonstrations at North American post-secondary establishments continued to unfold.
The University of Victoria confirmed Wednesday {that a} protest web site had been established on campus, saying the college was “taking a calm and thoughtful approach” to minimizing disruptions stemming from the encampment in its quad.
“We encourage thoughtful, reasoned and academic discourse on current issues and maintain that these discussions must take place in an environment free from discrimination, harassment and hate speech of any kind,” a press release from the college mentioned.
“Out of an abundance of caution, campus security may be monitoring access to buildings near the demonstration and may ask people for information prior to entering these buildings.”
Photos on social media present tents with Palestinian flags and indicators with slogans, though no boundaries had been arrange across the encampment’s perimeter. Security officers may be seen in some photos watching protesters.
An official at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo confirmed Wednesday a camp web site had been arrange on its campus too.
The college mentioned in a press release that it’s “monitoring the situation on our Nanaimo campus and (is) in contact with local RCMP.”
An encampment has entered its third day on the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, the place protesters stockpiled meals, water and different provides in preparation for a protracted keep.
In Quebec, a decide rejected an injunction request from two college students at Montreal’s McGill University to maneuver a protest camp additional away from faculty buildings, citing restricted proof of potential harms to college students if the encampment remained in place.
McGill University remained impartial within the injunction request however had requested police to assist to dismantle the camp, with authorities saying they had been evaluating the state of affairs and “advocating for a peaceful outcome.”
Protest camps at Columbia University in New York and the University of California-Los Angeles have resulted in clashes, both between attendees and police or counter-protesters.
In Victoria, protest group Free Palestine BC mentioned in a submit on Instagram that protesters are demanding the college “divest from all investments” linked to corporations with Israeli business pursuits.
The submit additionally mentioned protesters are demanding that the University of Victoria “cease partnering with Israeli academic institutions that constrain Palestinian rights.”
“This encampment is in rejection of the University of Victoria’s normalized relations and partnerships with universities that uphold policies of apartheid,” the assertion mentioned, referring to the group’s characterization of Israel’s insurance policies in Gaza.
The protests at North American faculties are in response to Israel’s offensive in Gaza, which got here after Hamas launched a lethal assault on southern Israel on Oct. 7. Militants killed about 1,200 individuals, most of them civilians, and took roughly 250 hostages.
The Health Ministry in Gaza says Israel has killed greater than 34,000 Palestinians in its offensive to stamp out Hamas.
Jewish teams in British Columbia have urged the administration at UBC to make sure the security of Jewish college students.
Hillel BC, a gaggle representing Jewish college students at seven post-secondary establishments within the province, mentioned in a press release that it had requested UBC for “proactive measures” to stop “disruption to student life and the educational process.”
The assertion posted on Instagram mentioned the group had suggested its neighborhood members to not have interaction the protest “in any way.”
“We are closely monitoring the situation regarding the encampment at UBC,” the assertion mentioned. “We have been in touch with the university administration to express our concerns and to request measures that ensure the ongoing demonstrations remain peaceful and respectful.”
Hillel BC didn’t reply to a request for remark concerning the University of Victoria encampment.
The protesters at UBC say they’re ready to remain till the college agrees to calls for that it help the Palestinian trigger within the ongoing Israel-Hamas battle.
Naisha Khan, a spokeswoman for the protest camp, mentioned in a written response that the UBC camp is “still going strong” regardless of elevated police presence across the web site.
Khan mentioned protesters is not going to go away till their calls for are met, together with for UBC to divest from all corporations linked to Israel, take part in a “global academic boycott” of Israeli colleges and publicly condemn Israeli actions in Gaza.
UBC officers mentioned Wednesday that they had no replace on the encampment.
On Wednesday, Vancouver police mentioned they arrested a 44-year-old lady in a hate-crime investigation stemming from a speech at a protest final Friday the place she praised the Oct. 7 assault.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
