As protestors set up tent encampments at universities across Canada and the U.S. in support of Palestine, London, Ont.’s Western University finds itself no exception on Wednesday.
According to a news release from Western University, a group of protestors began setting up tents outside Western’s University Community Centre on Wednesday.
The university said they have begun a dialogue with the protestors.
“We have affirmed their right to protest and indicated that we are here to work with them to ensure their activity remains peaceful and lawful,” Western said. “We have also outlined the activities that are not permitted on campus, including erecting tents.”
The protestors’ activity is “proceeding peacefully,” Western added.
Speaking to CTV News London, protestors said they want Western to divest from companies they said are complicit in Israel’s assault on Gaza, and demand university leadership denounce Israel’s actions.
“This genocide, this war, this massacre, it is taking far too many lives,” said Dr. Tarek Loubani, whose wife is currently in Gaza helping with aid efforts.
Organizers are refusing to identify themselves for fear of reprisal from the university, but said students and alumni are involved.
Campus constables are on site where they are monitoring the situation and ensuring the Western community remains safe, and are also consulting London police, which the university said they would do for any unsanctioned gathering.
The university warned however that while dialogue and debate are welcomed and encouraged, including for difficult topics, “Western will not tolerate hate speech.”
Organizers said the encampment will remain until midnight.
“If we don’t see any change, if we don’t se any divestments, if our voices are not being heard then we might have to run similar events until our demands are met by the university”, said one of the encampment organizers.
There has been a wave of similar protests linked to the Israel-Hamas war at university campuses in Canada and the U.S., including at Montreal’s McGill University and the University of Victoria in British Columbia.
— With files from CTV News London’s Gerry Dewan