Pro-Palestinian protesters have cleared out their encampment at the University of Manitoba campus, a day after they declared they were “prepared to resist” an order to leave.
“Participants have peacefully dismantled the encampment. UM looks forward to resuming regular use of the quad, including community programming and student events,” the university said in an email statement to CBC News on Monday.
CBC has not been able to reach any organizers of the encampment, which first went up on the campus green space on May 7, for comment.
In an open letter issued July 9 to Students for Justice in Palestine, the U of M directed the group to “peacefully dismantle the encampment and return the use of the quad space to the entire UM community.”
“Your right to peaceful protest does not include the ability to continuously occupy university space that is to be enjoyed by all community members,” the letter said.
The letter said the U of M expected the encampment to be removed by 8 a.m. July 15; otherwise the university would pursue legal remedies for its removal.
On Sunday, a spokesperson for Students for Justice in Palestine said they were “well-prepared to resist” any efforts to force them out.
Victoria Canjura also said her group was retaining legal counsel in case the encampment faced an injunction for its removal, as University of Toronto protesters did earlier this month.
Students for Justice in Palestine established the camp to protest Israel’s invasion of Gaza following Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel, and demand the U of M sever a number of ties with Israel.
Among other things, it called for the university to cease exchange programs and academic collaborations with Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which the protesters say is on Palestinian land, divest from any companies involved in genocide so that tuition dollars are not used for harm, and make public statements in support of Palestinians and Palestinian students.
Canjura on Sunday said the school has failed to meet the demands and has not been willing to meet with the group since the end of May.
In its open letter, the U of M said it “provided a detailed response both verbally and in writing,” indicating how it will address protesters’ concerns, and that it will follow through with its commitments.
“UM will not be expanding on our previously communicated commitments or otherwise negotiating on your demands,” the letter said.
A similar encampment was set up on the front lawn of the University of Winnipeg in mid-May and was taken down by organizers on June 24.
That group issued a statement the day the camp was removed, saying the university did not engage with their demands — including assurances of their safety.