Protesters at Western University set up 2nd pro-Palestinian encampment in consecutive weeks

Dozens of protesters set up a 12-hour encampment at Western University's campus in London, Ont., on Wednesday, the second such demonstration in two weeks, saying the school hasn't listened to their demands that it divest from companies with business interests in Israel.

Protesters erected several tents and unfurled banners around Western's university community centre, as protests at other Canadian and American universities continued in response to the months-long Israel-Hamas war. 

"This is our campus and we want to make sure there's no blood on our hands. These are our tuition dollars and we deserve to be consulted about it," said a Western undergraduate student who spoke on behalf of the protest's organizers. 

"We will continue to come back as long as it takes for us to sit down with the administration and to call for an end to the complicity. We will be protesting until full divestment."

Many students CBC spoke to didn't want to identify themselves and had their faces covered for fear of repercussions from the school.  

Students, faculty and community members were among those who took part as the encampment began at noon ET, and it was expected to last until midnight. Organizers said they will continue protesting until university officials agree to consult with them and be transparent about where their money is spent. 

Western responds to latest encampment

A Western University statement signed by John Doerksen, vice-provost of students, said the university is committed to maintaining open lines of communication with organizers, and their special constables are monitoring the situation to ensure activities are safe, peaceful and lawful.

"During our discussions, we reiterated the kinds of activities that are not permitted on campus, such as erecting tents," the statement read.

"While the fundamental principles of free speech are as important as ever, we expect protest activity to continue respectfully and within the bounds of the law."

Western did not clarify whether it will meet with students to disclose its investments. 

The encampment protests are a direct response to the mounting deaths in Gaza. A total of 253 hostages were seized in a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7 in which about 1,200 Israelis were also killed, according to Israeli counts. Israel's offensive has killed 34,844 Palestinians over the last seven months, health officials in Gaza said.

The student movement began at Columbia University in New York City on April 17 before protesters were forcefully cleared by police at the request of administrators. In Canada, encampments have also sprung up in Montreal's McGill University, the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia and McMaster University in Hamilton, among others.

Faculty members on board with protests

A growing number of Western University faculty members are also joining the protest to support the student-led initiative, said David Heap, an associate professor. 

"Western could be among the leaders who disclose what investments we have in the arms industry, fossil fuels and businesses that profit from the occupation of Palestine," said Heap. "The ball is in president [Alan] Shepard's court. All of this could end very quickly if he came and said, 'Yes we're ready to divest and let's talk about disclosure.'"  

Western University's investment portfolio is listed publicly on its website and shows investments in hundreds of companies that support its endowment and operating budgets. 

Protesters called out Western's investment in Lockheed Martin, which according to financial records published in September 2023 saw the university owning approximately $300,000 worth of equity in the company.

According to the company's website, Lockheed Martin has "strengthened the IDF's [Israel Defence Forces'] ground forces" and "supplied the Israel Air Force with fifth-generation fighter jets" with 50 aircraft that were projected to be delivered by 2024.

Heap said it's important for Canada to have a two-way arms embargo and as a community institution, Western must look at withdrawing from investments in the arms trade. 

'We want to have conversations'

University officials will likely not come to the table willingly and protests are a way to maintain pressure on them, said Dr. Tarek Loubani, an emergency physician who has worked in Gaza during previous wars and attended Wednesday's protest.

"We don't want to be here. We want to be having conversations but we are being ignored, and so it forces us to escalate our tactics so that we can be heard," Loubani said.

"I've been in Gaza during wars,. I know what it's like to be there without the equipment that's required to take care of your patients. I know what it feels like to be under bombardment while trying to provide the best care. And so we're here to make sure Western is not part of the problem but is part of the solution."