Vancouver Island University Pro-Palestinian Camp Ordered to Close by BC Court
Pro-Palestinian protesters who set up an encampment at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, B.C., have been instructed to vacate the premises within 72 hours.
The B.C. Civil Liberties Association reported that a judge in Vancouver issued an injunction on Thursday, mandating the removal of the encampment and prohibiting any new camps in the area for 150 days.
In response to a similar ruling in Ontario involving the University of Toronto, the university took legal action against the protest to secure the court order.
These encampments protesting the Israel-Hamas conflict emerged at various Canadian universities this spring, including the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria, with demonstrators advocating for the severance of ties with Israeli entities.
The civil liberties group intervened in the case to argue that the court must consider the impact of the injunction on the protesters’ Charter rights, even on private property.
While the association commended the court for deeming the university’s requested measures too expansive, the judge determined that the protesters’ rights under the Charter did not supersede the university’s property rights.
Related Stories
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs expressed satisfaction in a social media post that the courts have granted the injunction to ensure a safe campus environment for all individuals.
