Another Canadian university is acting to evict illegal pro-Hamas encampments from campus grounds.
The University of Waterloo issued a legal Trespass Notice against pro-Hamas encampment supporters on Friday, citing “untenable” behaviour.
The encampment has been in place since May 13 in front of the Graduate House on the University of Waterloo’s main campus.
“This notice means that members of the encampment must leave the Grad House Green immediately and must not return the encampment to University property. If they fail to comply, they risk facing consequences consistent with the Trespass to Property Act,” said the University in a press release.
People who continue to engage in encampments and other prohibited activities will be subject to fines of up to $10,000.
The University said that the encampment and several disruptive protest actions violate numerous of the University’s policies and items on its list of prohibited activities.
In the University’s initial formal notice issued to end the encampment on May 20, it cited six policies that were being violated by the encampment’s presence.
“Because you continue to violate our policies, we require you to end the encampment immediately and to dismantle all structures,” said the University.
The pro-Hamas encampment didn’t listen. The encampment is run by Occupy University of Waterloo, comprised of mostly of anonymous protesters wearing keffiyehs or N95s who have threatened campus administration in the past.
Over a month later, the university issued its Notice of Trespass, barring anyone from remaining in the encampment, setting up tents, shelters, equipment, or other structures anywhere else on University of Waterloo property. People are also prohibited from gathering at the University’s property anywhere between 10:00 pm and 8:00 am unless specifically authorized, or gathering for any instance that would violate the policies.
“If you do not comply and remain in the encampment and/or continue to participate in prohibited activities at the University of Waterloo, the University will pursue consequences under University policies, and/or agreements, and the law,” the University warned on Friday.
The University of Waterloo claimed that it has protected the right to free speech and freedom of expression throughout the protest activity.
“This has included myriad disruptive protest actions on campus since November 2023. The University took no action to interfere with any of these expressions,” said the University.
These rights do not extend to the endless occupation of a shared university space, argued the university.
“The University has acted with restraint in enforcing its policies, and the law,” reads the news release. “The University cannot tolerate disruptive behaviour that creates concern for the safety of people on campus. We cannot tolerate behaviour that crosses the line to harassment. The behaviour of encampment members is becoming untenable and causing greater disruption to the normal business of the University.”
Despite forcing the encampment to dismantle, the university said that it will continue to uphold the right of freedom of expression.
“We have a long road ahead of us to resolve the divisions that have emerged at our institution since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict,” said the University.
University encampments have been popping up from coast to coast.
Some Jewish students have spoken out against open support for terrorism at the camps.
Affidavits were filed against another university in Ontario, the University of Toronto, that alleged antisemitic hate, vandalism, harassment, and violation becoming the norm at the encampment.
Occupy University of Waterloo said that the trespass notice isn’t legally binding because the land belongs to the First Nations.
Protestors at the University of Calgary who refused to leave were eventually dispersed with rubber bullets, riot shields, bicycles, and flashbangs.
