By Canadian Press

Rights watchdog tells B.C. colleges: protect Gaza protesters at peaceful encampments

May 6, 2024 | 4:02 PM

VANCOUVER — British Columbia’s human rights commissioner is calling on universities and colleges to protect the rights of students and staff taking part in “peaceful encampments,” saying she’s worried about people who “speak up in solidarity with Gaza” being penalized.

Kasari Govender says in a statement that campus communities have a right to “peaceful and lawful assembly and free expression.”

Govender says there’s no place in B.C. for antisemitism, anti-Palestinian racism, Islamophobia or public incitement and, as long as those limits aren’t breached, universities and colleges should protect the rights of protesters.

Pro-Palestinian protest camps sprang up at several B.C. campuses last week, including at the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria.

Protest organizers have said they want universities to support the Palestinian cause by divesting from companies linked to Israel, joining a “global academic boycott” of Israeli schools and publicly condemning Israeli actions in Gaza.

Missing person

Battlefords RCMP seeking help in locating missing teen

13h ago

World Championships

Power, Cozens lead Canada to 5-3 win over Finland at hockey worlds

16h ago

Starbucks Coming

Starbucks is coming to North Battleford

May 17, 2024

Govender says that how decision-makers deal with the student protests will be a test of the “strength of our democracy.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2024.

The Canadian Press