WATERLOO, Ont. – Pro-Palestinian protesters have dismantled their encampment at the University of Waterloo, which had lasted nearly two months. In response, the university has decided to withdraw the legal action it had initiated against the group.
The university filed a lawsuit against the encampment participants, claiming the demonstration, which began on May 13, damaged its property and harmed its reputation.
The student-led group behind the protest announced they chose to “voluntarily decamp” on Sunday night as a strategic move. The group now plans to focus on the university’s investments and partnerships with Israel, which they assert were exposed due to the encampment protest.
University president Vivek Goel confirmed the peaceful dismantling of the encampment and stated the school is withdrawing its lawsuit and related injunction proceedings.
Goel acknowledged the recent period as “difficult and divisive” and emphasized the university’s commitment to exploring opportunities for engagement to address complex issues and bring the community together.
The university’s lawsuit had named several individual protesters identified as representatives of the encampment, along with unnamed individuals involved in the demonstration. The school sought an order to dismantle the encampment and requested authorization for police to arrest and remove any individuals refusing to leave.
Protesters criticized the lawsuit on social media, viewing it as an attempt to intimidate students with the threat of unaffordable fines. They also claimed that those named in the lawsuit experienced harassment and that the legal action “emboldened agitators.”
In his Monday statement, Goel expressed hope that the upcoming weeks would allow the university and students to “work together to bring healing and peace to our community.”
Source: The Canadian Press
