Vancouver Island University Gives Pro-Palestinian Protesters Trespass Notice

Vancouver Island University says it has issued a trespass notice to pro-Palestinian protesters, telling them to vacate their encampment on the campus in Nanaimo, B.C., by July 15. People gather and pitch tents at a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of British Columbia campus in Vancouver on April 29, 2024. (The Canadian Press/Ethan Cairns)

Vancouver Island University (VIU) has issued a trespassing notice to pro-Palestinian protesters on its Nanaimo campus.

The notice says that protesters must dismantle the encampment and leave by 8 a.m. on Monday, July 15.

“VIU had been hopeful the encampment could be resolved through dialogue between the university and student participants,” said a July 11 post on the school website.

“It has become evident that it is not realistic to continue to anticipate that the encampment can be resolved in this way,” the school said, adding that it will prioritize the safety and peace of those on campus.

The university says it will “take all legal steps necessary” to remove anyone who remains in the encampment after the deadline.

VIU says protesters have occupied various buildings, such as the Provost’s office and the Student Affairs Building, engaged in vandalism, and disrupted an exam.

Organizers of the encampment, Palestinian Solidarity Encampment Nanaimo, said in a July 12 statement that they had been committed to “reaching a resolution” with the school, but the school had decided not to “engage peacefully with students.”

The protest has been ongoing since May 1, the university says. The recent notice is the second trespassing notice the school has issued to the group.

VIU says it will abide by the terms of a recent settlement proposal, which includes the creation of a working group with equal representation of students, faculty, and staff.

The university says it will also form a committee with faculty, students, and administrators to review policies and procedures around protest activity and security protocols. The committee is expected to make recommendations to the school for managing future protests.

VIU has also pledged not to sanction students for participating in the protest.

On July 10, police and security personnel dismantled a similar encampment at Montreal’s McGill University.

McGill President Deep Saini said the move was in response to events at the camp that went beyond a peaceful protest.

Mr. Saini said that those linked to the encampment harassed community members, engaged in anti-Semitic intimidation, damaged university property, occupied a building, and committed acts of assault.

He has also accused the groups of hosting a “revolutionary youth summer program” that was advertised with images of masked individuals holding assault rifles.

On July 2, the University of Toronto was granted an injunction against a pro-Palestinian encampment at its campus. VIU referred to the case, saying they have retained counsel to file a court action.

The Canadian Press and Jennifer Cowan contributed to this report.