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Protesters who erected a pro-Palestinian encampment at the Université du Québec à Montréal say they will leave the grounds now that the university has adopted a resolution meeting most of their demands.
At a news conference outside the encampment Thursday morning, representatives confirmed they are satisfied with the resolution passed on Wednesday and will dismantle the camp by June 6.
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“The encampment has proven that it’s possible to establish a balance of power and achieve significant gains,” a representative for the encampment said, stressing their activism will continue in other ways.
“Our departure does not mean the end of our mobilization.”
The protesters set up the encampment three weeks ago. They were calling for the school to end ties with Israeli institutions and pledge not to create any in the future.
They also want the Quebec government to close its business office in Tel Aviv.
The university has maintained its foundation has no investments in weapons makers, nor does it have any student-exchange agreements or general agreements with Israeli universities.
In the resolution passed by its board on Wednesday, it called for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and condemned any violations of human rights.
The university also said it will ensure none of the university’s current or future academic agreements, including with Israeli universities, will be in conflict with international human rights.
Lastly, it said it will make sure its foundation has no direct investment in arms makers and that it discloses its investments each year.
Prior to the resolution, the university had been granted a partial injunction ordering the protesters to create a buffer zone of two metres, allowing access to the university’s buildings.
The university did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday morning.
In Quebec City on Thursday, Higher Education Minister Pascale Déry commented on the UQAM dismantling.
“Like I have always said since the beginning of these encampments, these encampments should be dismantled,” Déry told reporters. “I don’t think it’s the right place, the appropriate place to protest. I think there’s another way to be able to express ourselves.”
This story will be updated.
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