Following McGill University and the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), students at the University of Sherbrooke have established a pro-Palestinian encampment on their campus.
“The encampment finally begins in Sherbrooke,” said SDHP Sherbrooke (Solidarité pour les droits humains des Palestiniens – Université de Sherbrooke), the organizers on Instagram. “Join the movement to denounce genocide in Palestine, support other student encampments and call on the university to publicly condemn genocide, (to) publicly denounce Canada’s complicity, (to) call on Canada to stop arms sales, (to) fully disclose investments and more,” they wrote in a post.
In a written statement sent to “La Tribune,” Université de Sherbrooke officials said they are “assessing the regulatory and safety compliance of the facility.”
“UdeS respects and values the freedom of expression and academic freedom of the members of its university community, as long as these actions take place in a safe environment, respect the rules and does not hinder the continuity of teaching and research institution’s activities or the activities of its partners.”
This move follows Pro-Palestinian student encampments that were previously set up at McGill and UQAM universities in Montreal, Quebec.
At the same time currently the UQAM Pro-Palestinian encampment is asking for support from Montrealers to continue with its planned protest.
In recent days, Israel has intensified its military operations in Rafah, a southern city in Gaza, which is considered the last refuge for over a million civilians. Approximately 300,000 individuals have evacuated the city following Israel’s evacuation orders, as it aims to invade to dismantle Hamas and rescue around 100 hostages taken on October 7. The retaliatory strikes by Israel have resulted in the deaths of over 43,000 Palestinians.