Students launch pro-Palestinian protest at McMaster University

Students who have set up a pro-Palestinian encampment at McMaster University say they plan to stay until their demands are met.

Those demands are similar to the many other pro-Palestinian protests across Canada and the U.S., they want the university to divest from any Israeli companies with ties to the war.

Organizers at the protest say more people are coming out to support. There are over 30 tents and around 100 people.

“We’re all here to fight for a liberated Palestine and stand against all systems of oppression and dismantling all systems of apartheid including the Israeli apartheid and the occupation of the Palestinian people,” says one student.

Students and some staff set up more than 30 tents at the Burke Science building field over the weekend.

“We’re here to stay out indefinitely, like until McMaster listens to our demands we’re not going anywhere.”

READ MORE: Pro-Palestinian protests grow across Canadian universities

The protesters have laid out several demands related to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, most of which are focused on calling schools to divest from any Israeli organizations with ties to the war.

The students are also calling on the university to end its research collaborations and partnerships with academic institutions in Israel.

Hamilton Centre’s independent member of provincial parliament, Sarah Jama, and Hamilton Centre’s NDP MP Matthew Green attended the encampment.

“These students have chosen to very specifically this direct action as a way to peacefully protest and engage their post-secondary institution in the way of which this university and others maybe be engaging or be complicit with some of the atrocities unfolding in Palestine,” said Green.

In a statement, McMaster University says in part, “Universities have a long history with protests, which, when peacefully done reinforce and support our culture of freedom of expression.”

“McMaster is committed to an environment where this can be achieved without compromising the safety and security of students, faculty, and staff.”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he’s not in favour of these encampments and that universities have to “move these people along.”

McMaster says the campus safety teams are closely monitoring the situation.

READ MORE: Ontario universities warn student activists encampments will not be tolerated