اخبار العرب-كندا 24: الأربعاء 8 مايو 2024 07:31 مساءً
Organizers of the pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Toronto say school administration has been "unwilling" to discuss their core demands, after almost a week of protests.
On Wednesday, a group of students and faculty members gave a news conference at the site of the protest at King's College Circle, where they laid out their demands once again. They say they want the school to disclose and end investments going to businesses that support the Israeli government and sever ties with Israeli academic institutions.
"If this administration thinks that they can threaten us by giving us the runaround over emails and in private conversations, they have something coming," protest organizer Erin Mackey said at the news conference.
Over the weekend, school administration met with students where they discussed health and safety, including concerns about bathroom access.
Sandy Welsh, the university's vice-provost of students, called the conversations "constructive." The students disagree.
"They are even unwilling to engage in any sort of conversation around our demands," Mackey said.
U o T protesters want the school to disclose its financial ties to Israel, and divest from companies that support the country's war efforts. (CBC)
Students, alumni and faculty members taking part in the encampment are demonstrating alongside pro-Palestinian activists at university campuses across Canada and the U.S., as a ceasefire in the catastrophic seven-month war still feels distant.
University outlines safety concerns
In a email statement to CBC Toronto, Welsh outlined several concerns regarding the encampment, including that there were blocked exits and vehicles driving into the encampment. She also noted that it attracted thousands of protesters on Tuesday evening.
"As the summer term has begun, students are living in nearby residence buildings and this poses an additional safety risk," she wrote.
Aerial (drone) image of an encampment at the University of Toronto on May 2, 2024, where pro-Palestinian protesters have taken over King's College Circle. (Patrick Morrell/CBC)
Ontario premier Doug Ford has urged the university to end the encampment.
Protesters meanwhile say they are committed to staying put until their demands are addressed.
Police deny claims of surveillance
At the news conference, U of T assistant professor Robyn Maynard, who researches policing and social movements, laid out protesters' concerns regarding police surveillance around the encampment, an action she says the university supports.
She said her colleagues have confirmed police are using audio and video monitoring, including night vision technology, and that they believe it's likely officers are using facial recognition systems.
"Surveillance technologies in particular have been demonstrably a source of racial injustice," Maynard told reporters.
However, Stephanie Sayer, a spokesperson for the Toronto Police Service (TPS), said in a emailed statement to Radio-Canada Toronto that officers "are not conducting surveillance of the encampment site."
Sayer also wrote that the TPS Hate Crime Unit is investigating three alleged incidents that took place inside or nearby the encampment, including one on Sunday where a man was allowed into the area "but was later surrounded by several people, assaulted, and temporarily prevented from leaving the area."
As for instances of hate speech and security threats, Maynard also said those are are coming from counter-protesters and not protesters inside the barricade.
Jewish faculty group defends students
The Jewish Faculty Network, a national organization of Jewish academics, released a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, Wednesday, in support of the encampment.
In it, the network's steering committee wrote that there was "no justification for the reliance on law enforcement in the face of students' exercising their Charter protected rights to freedom of speech and assembly."
The pro-Palestinian student encampment is seen at U of T. Since the encampment was set up Thursday, thousands of alumni have signed a letter in support. (CBC)
"We are devastated to see so many university administrators condemn student protests, frequently in the name of 'Jewish safety.'"
Welsh also wrote in her email to CBC Toronto that the school was concerned about "hateful messages and speech as well as altercations," coming from the encampment.
A group of Jewish faculty members and students is holding a 'Rally Against Hate' on campus at 6:30 p.m. ET.
"As a result of the over week-long encampment at the University of Toronto, Jewish students and faculty have not felt safe being on their campus," the group said in a statement. "Some have been attacked, some have been refused entry, and many have experienced antisemitism."
Protesters within the encampment, students and faculty alike, deny that such incidents have occurred.
تم ادراج الخبر والعهده على المصدر، الرجاء الكتابة الينا لاي توضبح - برجاء اخبارنا بريديا عن خروقات لحقوق النشر للغير
