The pro-Palestinian encampment outside Western's University Community Centre (credit: Jack Sutton, XFM News)
The pro-Palestinian encampment at Western University has packed up and disbanded.
“With the encampment…coming to a peaceful end, campus can return to a welcoming space for all,” said Alan Shepard, the university’s president, in a statement on Saturday.
Last week, the university proposed a final list of commitments in response to the protesters’ demands. The proposal was ultimately rejected, leading to the university telling the protesters to take down the encampment, which has been in place since May 8.
“We have been abundantly clear that the right to protest does not include the ability to continuously occupy university space that is to be enjoyed by all members of the community,” Shepard said in an earlier statement on Friday. “It does not include building structures on private property, nor does it include ongoing disruptive behaviours preventing regular university business from taking place.”
The university says they had observed times of peaceful protest, but also added that “some community members and guests have also reported intimidation, harassment and other disrespectful acts within and around the encampment.”
Protesters were told if they disbanded voluntarily, the university would not pursue any disciplinary action against any students or staff for simply participating in the encampment, but they will hold everyone accountable who engaged in violence, property damage, building barricades, unauthorized entry into buildings, harassment or discrimination.
At their last rally on Saturday, protesters said that the university has not seen the last of them, and that they would be back.
The Western Divestment Coalition has since posted a story on their Instagram account sharing plans for another on-campus rally scheduled for Tuesday, July 9.
