A pro-Palestinian encampment has sprung up on a sports field at the University of British Columbia’s Vancouver campus in protest of the Israel-Hamas war.
Located on MacInnes Field near the bus loop, about 100 participants listened to speeches after putting up a dozen tents and a little library on Monday.
Palestinian flags have been hung on surrounding fences, along with banners calling for “Freedom for Palestine” and for Canada to “stop arming the genocide,” referencing the sale of Canadian arms to Israel.
A statement released by organizers says the group “do[es] not talk to cops or campus security” and “do[es] not engage with agitators or counter-protesters.”
“We commit to grounding ourselves in the cause of this encampment: solidarity with Gaza and the Palestinian people who are facing genocide. We reject co-optations and centring of anyone but the people of Palestine,” reads the statement.
In a statement, UBC said it was monitoring the camp and that protests should take place with respect for others and within university policy and the law.
“Any actions that create a health and safety risk, impede the university community (students, faculty and staff) from continuing learning, research, work and other activities on campus, or damage university property will be taken very seriously and investigated,” the statement said.
The UBC encampment follows the appearance of other encampments at universities and colleges in Canada and the United States.
Last week, protesters in Montreal set up an encampment on the McGill University campus demanding the school cut financial ties with Israel.
Some U.S. universities have called in police to break up demonstrations, resulting in scuffles and dozens of arrests. Last week, more than 100 demonstrators at Columbia University were arrested.
The mood at the UBC encampment was calm, with no security or police on site as of Monday at noon.
Social media posts calling for people to join the encampment say that masks are required. Organizers are also asking for money, supplies and sandbags.