Pro-Palestinian protesters set up encampment at University of Toronto
Well, this major field at UFT was blocked off to students starting over the weekend. The administration had put up some fencing. Well, students had stormed down that fencing early this morning at about 4:00 AM. Take a look at it now. A bunch of encampments, dozens of tents set up a students now occupying this portion of a UFT campus. This is called King’s College Circle. I’m told about 4:00 AM, students stormed down the fencing and put up tents for a peaceful demonstration, about 150 students. And faculty here. And more coming as the day goes on. Other students monitoring the entrance of the encampment only letting UFT students and faculty onto the grounds, making sure everyone’s values are aligned, trying to avoid any strangers from coming in, and avoiding any escalation during this process. Now we also hear that faculty is here, supporting students. Here’s more There’s a lot, a lot of faculty here. We wanted to make sure our students were safe, our students were heard and just be presence and witness. For for the students in this action. But of course we also support our students and their demands. And as a Jewish faculty member, I felt it was really important to be here. I’m here with a lot of other Jewish faculty and a lot of Jewish students. We’re here because we support absolutely the demands of the occupation and we support Palestinian liberation and freedom. We’re still waiting for UFT to get back to us with a comment, but lots of security is around just making sure this protest, this demonstration, is remaining peaceful. Students say that they plan on being here for as long as it takes. They want their voices heard. They want the university to divest and cut ties with certain Israeli companies. And of course, they say they want Palestine to be free. Meantime, MPP Sarah JAMA, who’s been very active in pro Palestinian relations. She says that she’s in support of all these demonstrations that are popping up across Canada. She says she’ll be at McGill University today, followed by the University of Ottawa, and then later on this week, she’s hoping to visit these students. Here on UFT Campus Jaden Lee, Lincoln Global News.