Calgary police forcibly dismantled a pro-Palestinian encampment on the University of Calgary campus May 9, using tear gas and flash bangs to bring the daylong demonstration to an end.
The majority of the pro-Palestinian protesters at the encampment agreed to gather their belongings and leave at the request of police, but a core group refused, police said. The use of “projectiles and assaultive behaviour” by the remaining protesters “triggered the use of non-lethal munitions by officers,” Calgary police said in a May 10 press release, adding that no injuries were reported. “Multiple opportunities were given throughout the course of the event for attendees to pack up and leave.”
The number of arrests, tickets, and charges will be announced on May 11, police said.
More than 100 protesters had set up a tent camp near MacEwan Hall, calling for the university to divest itself from any investments linked to Israel. The demonstrators had been asked to leave and, when they refused, were issued a trespass order by University of Calgary staff.
Calgary Student Movement, the group behind the protest, was calling for the university to fully disclose all investments it had made in Israel as well as the decision-making behind the investments. It also asked the university to boycott all institutions “complicit in the occupation of Palestine,” and to publicly condemn Israel for its war in the Gaza Strip.
The university said in a
statement that community members were free to protest, but “not free to camp” and set up temporary structures. President and vice-chancellor Bill Flanagan also said any actions that impeded the university’s ability to teach or violated its laws went “beyond the parameters of freedom of expression” and would not be tolerated.
“Our commitment to free expression calls for a measured and thoughtful approach, and we will extend this to all respectful and peaceful protestors,” Mr. Flanagan said. “However, the university will act where necessary to protect people and property and uphold the university’s policies.”
The Calgary Police Service said it worked with the university and protesters to resolve the protest, and encouraged roughly 60 protesters to leave without incident. By 11:15 p.m., the remaining demonstrators were “removed from the park by way of arrest.”
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said she supported the university’s decision, adding that many of the protesters were not students at the university.
“W
e are having graduation ceremonies. A lot of these kids didn’t get a graduation ceremony for high school. It’s not fair, for them or their families to be disrupted,” she said during a press conference. “There are appropriate ways to peacefully protest, but [the university has] said, ’
no camping.'”Pro-Palestinian protests have been popping up on university campuses across the United States and Canada over the past month. In some cases, police have had to move in to forcefully remove the protesters.
Jewish university students told a parliamentary committee on May 9 that their universities have failed to protect them from anti-Semitic incidents on campuses. According to Jewish advocacy group B'nai Brith’s latest report on anti-Semitism, incidents of violence, harassment, and vandalism toward Jews
have more than doubled since 2022.
Incidents of anti-Semitism have been on the rise since Israel launched a war against Hamas following the terrorist group’s Oct. 7 terrorist attack that left 1,200 Israelis dead.
