Canadian court allows police to clear pro-Palestinian campus encampment
An Ontario judge ordered pro-Palestinian protesters to leave their two-month-old encampment at Canada’s largest university by Wednesday evening, granting the University of Toronto’s injunction request, Reuters reports.
Police were authorised to arrest and remove anyone contravening the order but protesters said the order would not stop them from campaigning for their demands.
University of Toronto student Sara Rasikh, a spokesperson for the protesters, said she was “shocked, disheartened but also ready to continue applying pressure” and that the protests would continue until the university divests Israel-related investments and cuts ties with some Israeli institutions.
She said the protesters had not decided if they would comply with the order and leave. “We dont know what we’re going to do yet. We’re still trying to process the decision and we need to discuss with the community,” she said.
In a statement, the university welcomed the court decision. “We trust that those in the encampment will abide by the court order and vacate the encampment before the court-imposed deadline,” the statement said. “Anyone who chooses to remain in the encampment after that deadline will be subject to consequences under university policy and the law.”
Read more here.