Protesters call on the university to disclose and divest from firms arming Israel amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
Members of a pro-Palestinian encampment that was erected Sunday afternoon at the McMaster campus are calling on the university to disclose and divest from firms arming Israel amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
Caleb Smolenaars, a third-year labour studies student and media spokesperson for demonstrators, said students, faculty members and alumni have joined the protest.
By 3 p.m. about two dozen tents had been erected in front of Burke Science Building. About 50 to 75 people were at the site.
“We are calling on McMaster University to disclose their investments, divest from Israeli institutions, boycott and disclose,” said Smolenaars.
“This issue is incredibly important because we haven’t seen this level of violence (and) genocide in a long time. There are thousands of people who have been killed and are suffering in Gaza,” they said.
Members of a pro-Palestinian encampment that was erected Sunday afternoon at the McMaster campus are calling on the university to disclose and divest from firms arming Israel amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
Caleb Smolenaars, a third-year labour studies student and media spokesperson for demonstrators, said students, faculty members and alumni have joined the protest.
By 3 p.m. about two dozen tents had been erected in front of Burke Science Building. About 50 to 75 people were at the site.
“We are calling on McMaster University to disclose their investments, divest from Israeli institutions, boycott and disclose,” said Smolenaars.
“This issue is incredibly important because we haven’t seen this level of violence (and) genocide in a long time. There are thousands of people who have been killed and are suffering in Gaza,” they said.
Protesters carried Palestinian flags, unfurled banners and wore T-shirts calling on McMaster to distance itself from efforts to arm Israel.
Smolenaars added: “I believe we are prepared to stay indefinitely, until McMaster steps up.”
They added demonstrators have been in contact with McMaster administration but wouldn’t comment on specific negotiations with the university.
Yaser Haddara, an engineering faculty member at McMaster, said he plans to support the students for as long as they remain at the encampment.
“The purpose of the event is to demand that McMaster disclose, divest, boycott and declare,” he said.
Haddara said demonstrators want the university to disclose its investments in companies that contribute to Israel’s military. Protesters want the university to divest from those companies and join an institutional boycott of firms that he said are complicit in what they say is genocide against Palestinian people. Protesters also want McMaster to issue an affirmative statement against genocide, in support of Palestinians in Gaza.
“McMaster should be able to take a stance, an ethical stance that we will not invest in weapons manufacturers. We should be able to take a stance that we will not collaborate with these companies.”
Haddara said he isn’t worried about personal repercussions for supporting the demonstration.
“I think the McMaster leadership so far has dealt with students protests in a reasonable manner,” said Haddara. “There have been communications with the school and the school has expressed a desire to address the concerns of the students and we will have to see what practical steps they take.”
Yaser Haddara, an engineering faculty member at McMaster, said he plans to support the students for as long as they remain at the encampment.Mike Pearson/Metroland.
In an emailed statement Sunday afternoon, McMaster president and vice-chancellor David Farrar said the university supports the rights of community members to exchange ideas, engage in respectful and informed debate and peaceful protest.
“In exercising these freedoms, all members of the university community are required to respect the rights and freedoms of others and are expected to engage with one another in a spirit of mutual respect, understanding and regard for human dignity,” the statement reads in part.
Farrar added: “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 within our codes of conduct and without compromising the safety and security of students, faculty and staff.”
Original Link: https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilton-region/we-are-prepared-to-stay-indefinitely-pro-palestinian-encampment-erected-at-mcmaster-university/article_b64e7373-f1bf-59bd-850c-b78b328238c0.html
Written By: Mike Pearson
