NO UNIVERSITY RESPONSE, BUT COMMUNITY REMAINS STRONG
May 1, 2024 marks the third day of student action at the University of Ottawa. Originally a one-day sit-in, the student encampment on Tabaret Lawn has grown in size, supplies and support since Monday, April 29th.
Organized by INSAF uOttawa and the Palestinian Students Association (PSA), with support from Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) Carleton, the goal of the encampment is for the University of Ottawa administration to fully divest from “any and all corporations involved directly and indirectly” involved in the genocide in Gaza, disclose their direct and indirect investments, and adopt the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association definition of Anti-Palestinian racism. They are also asking the university to sever ties with Israeli institutions, such as ending the exchange program with Tel Aviv University.
Although organizers were initially scheduled a meeting with the university’s Chief Investment Officer (CIO) earlier this week, the meeting was called off for “not being beneficial to the university”. On Sunday, April 28, the university administration published a statement advising students against encampment.
Since then, students have taken up Tabaret Lawn to protest the university’s investments and bring wider attention to the ongoing genocide in Gaza. According to Reuters, the Gaza Health Ministry reports that 34,535 Palestinians have been killed and 77,704 have been wounded since Oct. 7.
By dusk, around 250 people have arrived to the encampment, chanting “we will free Palestine within our lifetime.” Activities throughout the day include a film screening of Mayday, continued reading circle of 100 Year War on Palestine, and teach-ins about Gaza.
INSAF published a statement on Instagram, formally asking U of O president and vice-chancellor Jacques Fremont for a meeting. “We, as Insaf, operate in good faith and despite the encampment, will continue to do so.”
”Now, in good faith, we are asking again for a meeting, and not only that, but we are letting you know, that until you disclose and divest, we will not rest.”
Part-time law professors, lawyers, and members of Faculty for Palestine Alexandria Bonney and Lydia Dobson spoke to encampment attendees around 2:15 p.m. They said that professors will be meeting with university administration soon and will be demanding divestment. “Peaceful gatherings are not criminal activities. Genocide is,” said Dobson.
University of Ottawa Students’ Union (UOSU) president Delphine Robitaille sent out an email to student groups regarding feedback for a union statement on the encampment after the upcoming emergency Board of Directors (BoD) meeting, scheduled for Friday, May 3.
An individual spray-painted “Free Palestine” on the front steps of Tabaret Hall, before evading campus protection officers. Security presence has remained at a minimum, with officers regularly circulating the perimeter. Media presence, including those from CTV and Radio-Canada, have arrived throughout the day to film and interview attendees.
You can follow the Fulcrum’s coverage of the encampment here, as well as our live-update thread on Twitter/X.
- With files from Andrew Wilimek
Author
- BREAKING: U of O students plan sit-in for Palestine
- U of O administration responds to sit-in plans
- Student Sit-In Begins April 29th on Tabaret Lawn
- Disclosure and Divestment: A look at U of O protesters’ demands
- BREAKING: Student Sit-In turns into active encampment
- Student Sit-In Continues on Tabaret Lawn for a Second Day; Turns Into Encampment
- ‘A simple meeting is the first step’: reviewing Day 3 of U of O’s student encampment
- “Divest is the neutral position”: Recapping Day 4 of U of O’s student encampment
- “Look away like you do for genocide”: Student Encampment Continues for Fifth Day
- ‘It’s important to … remember that we’re not in this alone’: reviewing day 6 of the U of O encampment
- U of O protest continues into second week: Day 8 recap
- Negotiations with University Break Down: Day 9 recap
- Political and Social Groups Respond: Reviewing Day 10 of the U of O protest
- Tent shelters, teach-ins continue at protest: Day 11 recap
- ‘Academia should be concerned with people’: recapping the 12th day of the U of O encampment
- Second Saturday of protest marked by community presence, rain: Day 13 recap
- Week Two Recap: Encampment, community support grows as organizers set to meet with university administration
- U of O protest organizers hold preliminary meeting with university administration: Day 15 recap
- Tensions high at Ottawa City Hall as Israeli flag flies: Day 16 recap
- University agrees to give timeline for disclosure of investments: Day 17 recap
