Achi news desk-
A couple dozen tents and about 50 to 60 students and staff have started an anti-Israel demonstration in support of Palestine on the University of Calgary campus.
“We protest the university’s ties to Israel,” said spokesperson Ryn Laroux.
“We are here as students, faculty members and community, really advocating for our part that we play as we pay tuition, as we attend this university and as citizens of the city,” said spokesman Salam Kafri.
The school says the camp on the south lawn of MacEwan Hall started on Thursday around 6:30am
“We engage with the individuals involved; however, temporary structures and overnight protests are not permitted,” read a statement.
“Members of the campus community are free to protest but they are not free to camp.”
Calgary police also served protesters with a trespass notice.
“The protesters were asked to leave and when they refused, they were trespassed,” said the police.
“Despite being trespassed, the protesters refused to leave and the police have been called in for assistance.”
The demonstration has remained peaceful, with many protesters coming and going.
The Calgary Student Movement started the camp, called the Mohkinstsis Liberated Zone.
They demand that the university provides full transparency on investment decisions and disassociates from any businesses with ties to Israel.
The group wants to show its solidarity with the Palestinians who live in the West Bank and Gaza.
“Look at Gaza and Palestine. We recognize that there are no more functioning universities, along with very few health care facilities,” Kafri said.
“So as students here, not only do we stand up for these demands, but we stand up to represent the students who are no longer able to attend their own institutions and pursue higher education.”
Despite the warnings from the school and the police, demonstrators say they are in for the long haul.
“We will stay here as long as it takes,” Laroux said.
“As long as it takes for the university to fulfill our demands.”
