Edmonton police say they cleared pro-Palestinian demonstrators from the University of Alberta campus on Saturday morning.
A police spokesperson, Scott Pattison, says the officers repeatedly told the occupants that they were contravening the establishment’s rules and provincial laws. They issued a final warning shortly after 4:30 a.m. before escorting the protesters to the north side of campus.
The authorities’ decision comes after setting up a camp on Thursday. This had around forty tents the next day.
The demonstrators demanded that the university stop receiving funding from Israeli institutions.
University President Bill Flanagan said Saturday he feared the risk of fire and an escalation of violence between demonstrators and counter-protesters.
Mr Flanagan said only a quarter of the 50 demonstrators were university students. He added that police reported no serious injuries.
“The vast majority of those present obeyed police instructions and left the encampment peacefully. Unfortunately, two individuals with no connection to the University of Alberta did not obey the order to leave and were expelled,” he said.
The university president reiterated that protesters on campus must respect university policies and public safety rules.
A post on the group’s Instagram account university4palestine.yeg said four people had been arrested. At least two of them had been released by 7:30 a.m.
Location at McGill
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
The pro-Palestinian camp at McGill University
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 “which 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 and Ottawa. Vancouver and Calgary.
In Calgary, police intervened Thursday evening to force demonstrators to leave the campus.