An encampment emerged at the University of Victoria on Wednesday (May 1) as protesters showed solidarity with similar anti-war campus demonstrations deploring the plight of Palestinians.

In echoing other demonstrations, UVic protesters called for their school to pull its financial backing from companies they say are contributing to “the ongoing genocide of Palestinians.”

Close to 50 people had joined the protest as of Wednesday morning as tents and signs were plotted across a corner of the grassy quad outside UVic’s McPherson Library.

The protesters say their months-long calls for the university to divest from companies, especially those with links to weapon manufacturers that are currently doing business with Israel, have not come to fruition. As they say that divestment is happening slowly, the demonstrators want UVic to immediately break financial and all other ties with Israel.

“I believe that it would cause a safer environment for students, especially Palestinian and Arab students who are currently facing discrimination from everyone,” a protester who would only go by Muhammed said in an interview.

After Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, Israel’s responding offensive in Gaza has killed over 34,500 Palestinians.

“It’s been very heavy on me, it’s been a lot to process,” Muhammed, who has Palestinian heritage, said as the war nears the seven-month mark.

“We are going to stay until our calls are met, we are not planning on leaving,” the protester said. “We are here to make a point that the students want the university to divest.”

UVic released a statement in the early afternoon stating it’s monitoring the situation and is taking a calm and thoughtful approach to this demonstration.

“We encourage thoughtful, reasoned and academic discourse on current issues and maintain that these discussions must take place in an environment free from discrimination, harassment and hate speech of any kind,” the statement said, noting activities on campus must align with UVic’s institutional values.

“We understand that events like these can impact members of our community in different ways. We encourage everyone to show kindness and compassion for one another.”

The Greater Victoria event follows encampments forming in solidarity with Palestinians at other campuses across North America. In Canada, demonstrations at universities like McGill, in Montreal, have also called for the academic institutions to divest from weapons makers and other companies. Tensions have risen at some south-of-the-border events as students have been arrested and different protest groups have clashed recently.

As a campus security vehicle stayed close by and enforcement officials occasionally walked the quad’s perimeter, the UVic protest site was calm on Wednesday morning. Demonstrators occasionally broke off into smaller discussion circles, made signs or strummed a guitar from one of several the red Muskoka chairs placed around the encampment. Keffiyeh scarfs wrapped around many protesters’ heads or draped over their shoulders.

The university’s statement made no mention about its financial holdings and did not respond to a question asking the school to outline its investments in several companies highlighted by the demonstrators.

A UVic student, who referred to themselves only as E, said the university has up to millions of dollars invested in companies like Scotiabank and BlackRock – asset managers being targeted by protesters over their own financial support for weapon makers supplying Israel’s military. The student also wants UVic to make stronger statements on the war than it has so far.

“I would like to see them go beyond a balanced statement, I would like to see them condemn this situation as a genocide and acknowledge their direct funding of it … their complicity and their perpetuation of the situation through their massive financial investments,” E said in an interview.

“It’s very clear that they don’t want us to be doing what we’re doing and so in that sense we are able to leverage some power. The longer we’re here, the more sway we might be able to have.”

Asked about the UVic encampment, and similar ones at the Vancouver Island University and the University of British Columbia, B.C. Post-Secondary Education Minister Lisa Beare said the student-led actions in the province have been peaceful.

She added the protests are not surprising as campuses have historically been places of free speech, and emphasized those sites must be safe places for students, faculty and staff.

“We are all united in our shared goal to make sure campuses are safe and hate of any kind will not be tolerated,” the minister said.

Roughly 50 demonstrators have set up camp outside the UVic’s library in solidarity with other campus protests across North America. #yyj @BlackPressMedia pic.twitter.com/LAPQsJoghJ

— Victoria News (@VictoriaNews) May 1, 2024

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