As Brock University’s graduation ceremony began, a group of pro-Palestinian protestors held a silent rally on the school’s campus.
Demonstrators carrying signs and Palestinian flags gathered outside of the Ian Beddis gymnasium around 10 a.m. on Monday while releasing a statement condemning the school’s president for remarks they made about Hamas following the Oct. 7 attack.
Calling themselves Brock for Palestine, the group says it’s a coalition made up of current and former students, as well as staff.
It comes as similar protests have been waged on school campuses across the country.
In a statement, the demonstrators said they are calling on the school to acknowledge and condemn Israel’s hostilities in Palestine, cut academic ties with Israeli institutions supporting the war and refrain from penalizing any student who partakes in a pro-Palestinian demonstration on the school’s campus.
“After Hamas’ act of resistance against the occupation and apartheid wall on October 7th, 2023, President Rigg quickly posted a statement, in which she named the Hamas’ resistance as “terrorist acts,” however, to this date since October 7th, President Rigg has neither publicly nor privately acknowledged or condemned Israel’s 76-year long colonial occupation, apartheid, ethnic cleansing, and systemic killing of people in Palestine.”
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Students from Brock University’s Goodman School of Business campus were scheduled to cross the stage for their convocation ceremony at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m on Monday.
It remains unclear if the protests had an impact on the graduation event.
Brock University says it respects “the right of all Brock community members to express their views peacefully without preventing graduates and their families from celebrating at Convocation.”
““We recognize that world events are weighing on the hearts and minds of our students, faculty and staff. Freedom of expression is one of Brock’s foundational values and guiding principles, and we are committed to the free and open exchange of ideas and civil debate.”
Ceremonies are scheduled to continue throughout the week until Thursday.
