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3 MUN students charged with trespassing after refusing to leave pro-Palestine protest on campus

Each student is set to appear in court at a later date. Protesters had been occupying Memorial University's Arts and Administration building since early June. On Friday, MUN asked them to leave, citing both safety issues and an Ontario court ruling on protests at U of T.

Each student is set to appear in court at a later date

William Ping · CBC News ·
Tents set up behind sign with tarp draped over that states, "students for ceasefire."
As of Saturday afternoon, there remains only one tent still erected on the Memorial University campus. This image shows part of the scene before Friday night. (Jenna Head/CBC)

In a statement released Saturday morning, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary confirmed that three students are each facing a single charge of petty trespassing after refusing to leave Memorial University's Arts and Administration Building.

These charges come in the wake of MUN asking the pro-Palestine encampment on campus to disband, citing Wednesday's Ontario Superior Court of Justice granting the University of Toronto an injunction to tear down the encampment on its property.

Memorial University released a statement on Saturday morning as well, explaining that a small group of students has been occupying, and sleeping in, the lobby of the Arts and Administration building since June 7.

According to the statement, an inspection by the St. John's Regional Fire Department on Thursday outlined a number of safety issues with the protesters' encampment and occupation. 

"On the same day, student protesters were notified, via their legal counsel, that they cannot continue to live in a building or camp on grounds meant for work and study," the statement said. 

The university said Campus Enforcement and Patrol (CEP) officers asked protesters to leave on Friday evening. While most protesters followed the order, three did not and MUN called the RNC.

"Those three students were escorted from the building by CEP without force or incident," the university said.

Several signs are stuck on a wall, including signs with peace signs and a sign saying "all children deserve to grow up."
This image from early June shows some of the signage that protestors had erected in the Arts and Administration building lobby. (Darrell Roberts/CBC)

In its statement, the RNC said they "respect the right to a peaceful and lawful protest."

"The priority of responding officers was the safety of both the students and Campus Enforcement," the statement said.

"Officers responded to the Arts and Administration Building and spoke with demonstrators to explain the risks of not following the order of Memorial University."

Each of the three students is facing a single charge of trespassing and will attend court at a future date.

MUN said the Arts and Administration building will remain closed for the weekend for cleanup.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

William Ping

Journalist

William Ping is a newsreader and journalist with CBC at its bureau in St. John's.

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