B.C. university gives pro-Palestinian protesters trespass notice, deadline to vacate

NANAIMO, B.C. — Vancouver Island University has issued a trespass notice to pro-Palestinian protesters, telling them to vacate their encampment on the campus in Nanaimo, B.C., by Monday.

The university said in a statement that the notice was issued Thursday and if protesters are not gone by 8 a.m. Monday, it would “take all legal steps necessary to remove them.”

The protesters issued a statement on Friday urging the university not to waste money on a legal challenge and instead engage in dialogue.

The university’s move came after a court in Ontario granted an injunction against a protest camp at the University of Toronto, leading to protesters leaving, which Vancouver Island University noted in its statement.

Vancouver Island University said it would start legal action seeking an injunction against the camp and damages from protesters if the camp isn’t dismantled by the deadline.

It said the camp that has been in place since May 1 posed “unprecedented challenges” and the university must prioritize the safety and peace for all people on campus.

The university said it issued a previous trespass notice on May 2.

It said activity by protesters prevented it “from maintaining the inclusivity and safety we promise to uphold, where everyone can study or work in a secure and respectful environment.”

It said these actions have included occupations of university buildings and vandalism.

The organizers of the camp, Palestinian Solidarity Encampment Nanaimo, said in an emailed statement Friday that it had “consistently maintained a peaceful and safe environment.”

They said they remained committed to “reaching a resolution” with the school, but the school had decided not to “engage peacefully with students.”

They urged the university “to follow the example” of other institutions by using “dialogue and constructive solutions.”

“Rather than putting students at risk and spending unnecessary money on legal actions, we call on VIU to honour its values and previous promises to the community,” the statement said.

Vancouver Island University said although it too was hopeful the situation could have been resolved through dialogue, it had “become evident that it is not realistic to continue to anticipate that the encampment can be resolved in this way.”

The camp is among a number of such protest sites at universities in Canada and the United States.

A protest camp at the University of B.C. in Vancouver was vacated by protesters voluntarily last week.

The protesters against the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza have been demanding that universities cut financial and academic ties with Israeli firms and institutions.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 12, 2024.

The Canadian Press