Pro-Palestinian protesters pack up, clear out camp at University of Manitoba

Pro-Palestinianprotesters have cleared out their encampmentat the University of Manitoba campus, a day after they declared they were "prepared to resist" an order to leave.

Mer Canjura, a spokesperson for Students for Justice in Palestine, which established the camp on May 7, held a news conference Monday to say they decided to pack up "to deprive the University of Manitoba of the spectacle that they so desire" if police or other security had been brought in to remove the group.

As well, there are a number ofracialized and international students whoface an immense risk with legal action, Canjurasaid, chastising the U of M for its"malicious intent."

The group held its news conference at the edge of the quad, a green space at theU of M's Fort Garry campus in south Winnipeg, where the encampment had been set up.

They refused to take questions after reading their statements.

Earlier in the day, the U of M released a statement saying the camp had been "peacefully dismantled" and that the university now "looks forward to resuming regular use of the quad, including community programming and student events."

In an open letter issued July 9 to Students for Justice in Palestine, the U of M directed the group to do exactly that "otherwisethe university would pursue legal remedies for its removal."

"Your right to peaceful protest does not include the ability to continuously occupy university space that is to be enjoyed by all community members," the letter said, giving a deadline for the encampment's removal of Monday at 8a.m.

On Sunday, Students for Justice in Palestine said they were "well-prepared to resist" any efforts to force them out. That defiance diminished at some point before Monday's deadline.

But Canjura said the group vows to continue to push for the demands it has been making since the camp began.

"If the University of Manitoba believes that their intimidation tactics and disrespectful ignorance will deter us, they are wrong," she said.

Students for Justice in Palestine established the camp to protest Israel's invasion of Gaza following Hamas's Oct. 7 attack on Israel, and to call on the U of M sever a number of ties with Israel.

Among other things, it called for the university to cease exchange programs and academic collaborations with Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which the protesters say is on Palestinian land, to divest from any companies involved in genocide so that tuition dollars are not used for harm, to make public statements in support of Palestinians and Palestinian studentsand to createa course on Palestinian history.

Canjurasaid the school has failed to meet thedemands, and has instead offered"a lacklustre, shallow response" and more recently,hasrefused to continue any sort of negotiations.

She castigated the U of M, which she said claims to be dedicated to decolonization and reconciliation, but "has only shown a steadfast commitment to the silent enabling of a genocide."

The Israeli governmenthas rejected claims it is committing a genocide.

In its open letter, the U of Msaid it "provideda detailed response both verbally and in writing," indicating how it will address protesters'concerns, and that it will follow through with its commitments.

"UM will not be expanding on our previously communicated commitments or otherwise negotiating on your demands," the letter said.

A similar encampment was set up on the front lawn of the University of Winnipeg inmid-May and was taken down by organizers on June 24.

That group issued a statement the day the camp was removed, saying the university did not engage with their demands including assurances of their safety.