'It was violent': Police tear down U of A pro-Palestinian encampment Saturday morning
CTV
Multiple people at the protest camp torn down at the University of Alberta campus Saturday say police's actions against protesters were "violent" and "disproportionate."
Multiple people at the protest camp torn down at the University of Alberta campus Saturday say police's actions against protesters were "violent" and "disproportionate."
The camp began forming on the north campus of the university on Thursday, with students and demonstrators condemning the war in Gaza and demanding the school divest from companies "complicit in occupation, and apartheid and genocide" in Gaza.
Police said the camp was dismantled Saturday morning after "repeated notice to encampment participants by the university that their activities violate university policy," with a final notice issued to campers at 4:35 a.m.
At the time, the universtiy estimated there were around 50 people at the camp.
Police said no one was injured, however pictures and video posted to social media show officers striking several demonstrators with batons.
"Campers were injured," said David Kahane, a professor at the University of Alberta who witnessed the tear down.
"I saw a bleeding baton injury, I saw bruises … one camper at least had to go to a clinic for emergency assessment x-ray for injuries, so it was aggressive. It was violent."
