University of Alberta students reacted with outrage Saturday after Edmonton police dismantled a pro-Palestinian encampment on campus, calling the operation violent and disputing claims the demonstrators were breaking the law .
Organizers said police fired tear gas and waved batons at students at the north campus shortly after they arrived, at 4:30 a.m., leading to one hospitalization.
Videos posted on social media show a line of police confronting demonstrators in the dawn light, as young people shout “free Palestine, free Palestine” before the officers advance chanting “Move” and pushing and shoving hitting some students with batons.
The images match descriptions by political science professor David Kahane, a member of the Edmonton chapter of Independent Jewish Voices Canada, who was there with the protesters and described the experience as “violent.”
“I personally saw a superficial wound that bled profusely following a baton blow. I personally saw — this was after the end of the police intervention — bruises caused by non-lethal projectiles that people showed on their legs and arms, Mr. Kahane said in a telephone interview. It was not peaceful. »
Mr. Kahane’s version is contradicted by the Edmonton police who deny having used tear gas. According to her, no one was hospitalized and the use of force was limited.
“Our intervention specifically targeted three individuals who were aggressive against our police officers. One of them even attacked an officer,” said spokesperson Scott Pattison in an email.
University president Bill Flanagan said police reported no serious injuries and that “almost everyone in the encampment dispersed peacefully.”
In a statement on Saturday, he cited the risks of fire, escalation and violent clashes with counter-protesters among the reasons for the police intervention in the camp established two days earlier.
“What is very concerning is that some members of the group brought wooden pallets, materials known to be used as barricade building materials – actions that run counter to peaceful and respectful protests. law,” he said.
“Night-time protests are often accompanied by serious acts of violence and larger crowds, which amplifies the risks, especially as they attract counter-protesters or outside agitators. »
Mr. Flanagan clarified that “approved peaceful demonstrations are welcome,” but must comply with university policies and public safety rules. About a quarter of the 50 demonstrators were students from the University of Alberta, he said.
Mr. Kahane countered that many of the other participants were former students and that organizers had already removed the pallets from the location. According to him, “it looked more like a picnic with tents than a sort of fortified encampment.”
The demonstrators demanded that the university stop receiving funding from Israeli institutions.
McGill waiting
On Friday, McGill University asked the Superior Court of Quebec for an order requiring demonstrators from the pro-Palestinian encampment to dismantle their installations and vacate the university land they occupy.
McGill justifies this recourse to justice by pointing out the risks posed by the encampment “for the health and safety of members of the McGill community and the people who occupy it.”
The request also mentions tensions between demonstrators and counter-protesters which risk escalating the situation and putting people in danger. She also mentions the accumulation of “waste”.
In addition to doubling the number of security guards on campus, McGill University says it will have to pay more than $700,000 to find another location for graduation ceremonies that usually take place on the grounds than Occupy demonstrators.
The Superior Court is expected to hear the request for an injunction on Monday.
The camp was set up two weeks ago. The number of occupiers has grown to more than 100. As elsewhere, they are asking university authorities to stop doing business with companies “that are complicit in the Israeli occupation of Palestine”.
During a press conference organized Friday evening, two representatives of the camp criticized the McGill administration for being ready “to compromise the safety of students” and for wanting to harm and stifle pro-Palestinian demonstrators.
Protesters also set up camps on university campuses in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and Calgary.
In Calgary, police intervened Thursday evening to force demonstrators to leave the campus.