Edmonton police arrested three people while clearing a pro-Palestinian encampment on the University of Alberta campus early Saturday morning.
Amid the months-long conflict in the Middle East, more than 100 students, staff and allies set up camp Thursday in support of Gaza and demanded that the university disclose its investments and cut any ties with Israel.
Communication with the demonstrators about what was allowed was unsuccessful and “escalating actions put the university community’s safety at risk,” according to university president Bill Flanagan. The university had to call on police to vacate its property.
“I know the last two days have been particularly challenging for many in the university’s diverse community. The activity on our campus today was not taken lightly and there was no easy path forward for anyone involved,” Flanagan said in a public statement issued Saturday.
The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) arrived at the north campus quad early Saturday morning, after the university had warned protesters several times that they were violating university policy and trespassing, according to a statement police issued Saturday morning.
The final warning was issued shortly after 4:30 a.m. MT Saturday, police said. Officers arrived later, warned the remaining protesters to leave, then cleared those who remained off campus.
Most protesters left after a third trespass notice was issued, Flanagan said. When it was cleared, there were about 40 tents and 50 people — less than a quarter of whom were U of A students, he said.
Police arrested three men Saturday: a 23-year-old from Edmonton, a 30-year-old whose address is currently unknown and a 30-year-old Australian, an EPS spokesperson told CBC News. None of them were registered U of A students.
The men were charged and released on a promise to appear in court, the spokesperson said.
Videos taken by demonstrators at the scene showed some officers using batons and, at one point, a gas emanated as police moved the crowd.
The EPS spokesperson confirmed that some officers deployed “special munitions” to deal with the three men who were arrested, one of whom is charged with assaulting a peace officer. They denied that tear gas was used.
No major injuries were reported to paramedics on scene by demonstrators or police, the spokesperson said.
Social media posts from protesters suggested they were off the university campus by approximately 7:30 a.m.
Campus encampments
The U of A encampment is one of several that popped up on university campuses across Canada, including the University of British Columbia, the University of Calgary, the University of Toronto, the University of Ottawa and McGill University in Montreal.
Calgary police cleared an encampment at the U of C this week. Police used force to remove demonstrators who hadn’t left the site; five people were arrested.
In Montreal, McGill University is seeking a court injunction against an encampment on its downtown campus.
Flanagan’s statement suggested U of A officials were watching what was happening elsewhere. He said that overnight demonstrations can escalate quickly.
The statement also suggested the demonstration was an unapproved event that contradicts university policy.
The university allows people to apply to book events on its property, regardless of whether the hosts are affiliated with the school. It has operating procedures for events that are not approved, however.
Its campus is considered private property, so any unapproved events are considered trespassing, the policy states.
The school was clear from the jump that demonstrations could not break the law or violate university policy, Flanagan said.
University officials “repeatedly informed” the group — verbally and in writing — about its procedures, he said, adding that they told the group they could protest on campus if they did not erect temporary structures, including tents and barricades, and did not stay overnight.
Some demonstrators also brought in wood pallets, Flanagan said, which could be used as “barricade-making materials — actions that are counter to peaceful, law-abiding protests.”
The fire inspector examined the scene and declared the pallets a fire hazard, he added.