Students at Université Laval in Quebec City attempted to join a wave of campus protests when they tried to set up a pro-Palestinian encampment at the school Saturday afternoon.
Over 20 students set up tents on the corner of Chemin Ste-Foy and Du Séminaire Avenue before Quebec City police (SPVQ) asked them to take the encampment down.
Police said the students would be removed if they attempt to set up their tents again, according to a spokesperson for the students Antoine Grenier. He said the group, which has until 11 p.m. to stay on the premises, is deciding how it’s going to proceed with the protest.
“We’re hoping the university can understand and let us do that because we’re doing it pacifically and we’re not violent at all. We’re just here to have activities with our people and talk about what is happening [in Gaza] and ensure that the university is behind us on that as well,” Grenier said.
As pro-Palestinian encampments pop up on university campuses across Canada, there’s a renewed focus on freedom of expression.
Israel launched its war against Hamas after the militant group’s attacks on Oct. 7. During the attacks, some 1,200 people were killed and around 250 were taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. About 120 people remain unaccounted for.
Health authorities in Gaza say Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians and has led to famine, the destruction of key hospitals and, according to the United Nations, the displacement of 1.7 million people.
Fund managers abide by responsible investment, university says
The group of students — called Étudiants/Étudiantes de l’Université Laval pour la Palestine — is asking the university for financial transparency and that it discloses any investments with links to Israel, it said in a statement to the media. Other demands include that the university end any exchange programs with Tel Aviv University in Israel, its summer school program in Tel Azekahas well as any association with the Joint Canada-Israel Health Research Program.
David Fortier, another spokesperson for the students, says he doesn’t have any specifics on possible financial ties between the university and Israel.
“But the point is also that for many campuses here it’s a very hazy issue and what we want is to be sure —100% sure — that, you know, our money that goes to the university doesn’t at all go to anything related to the state of Israel,” said Fortier.
The university confirmed that the protestors are still on site and that police dismantled the encampment earlier Saturday.
“The encampment does not respect municipal regulations,” university spokesperson Andrée-Anne Stewart said in a statement to CBC News. “The SPVQ enforces municipal regulations and Université Laval respects those regulations in force.”
She added the university manages the majority of its investments through fund managers following a policy of responsible investment. The university therefore does not have an exhaustive list of the assets included in these funds, she says.
Stewart said that the university’s mission is to establish a dialogue with protestors — before, during and after any given manifestation.
Grenier says the group sent its demands to the university at the same time it was setting up the encampment.
CBC News reached out to Quebec City police but they did not immediately answer at the time of publication.