Student-led pro-Palestinian encampments have been established at many campuses across Canada, the U. S. and all around the world.
Now, several tents and signs demanding a ceasefire in Gaza have now gone up at the Memorial University campus in St. John’s.
Nicolas Keough, Director of External Affairs at MUN’s Student Union, says they started setting up the tents at around 5:00 yesterday morning – around 10 units have been established at the encampment.
One of their demands is that the university divest and disclose from Israel, and show transparency by providing information on exactly where the university’s money is going.
He says endowment funds – money invested to gain interest for scholarships – could potentially have ties to Israeli companies
He says they have been asking for that information for several months now. The protest calls on MUN to divest itself of all investments connected to Israeli arms manufacturers.
In a statement, Memorial University says they support members of their community protesting on their property, so long as they conduct themselves within the university’s policies, codes of conduct, and the law. Thus far, they say that has been happening.
They state that their focus is on maintaining a safe environment for everyone, including those protesting, those who disagree with the protest, and those who are neutral. Furthermore, things such as discrimination hate speech, harassment or destruction of property won’t be tolerated.
Anyone with concerns for their safety is asked to contact the Chief Risk Officer.
The university has been in contact with protest organizers, and a meeting with MUN leadership has been scheduled.
Meanwhile, Norway, Ireland and Spain say they are all recognizing a Palestinian state. Ireland’s P-M says his nation made the historic move in co-ordination with Norway and Spain, and Spain’s PM followed up with a similar announcement to his Parliament. Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris says his nation can sympathize with the plight of Palestinians yearning for their own nation.
