U of T convocation begins as pro-Palestinian encampment continues

At least two University of Toronto students made a visible show of support for Palestinians while crossing the stage at their convocation Monday, as the school's 2024 spring graduation ceremonies began against the backdrop of a pro-Palestinian encampment steps away from Convocation Hall.

A livestream of the events showed one student unfurl a Palestinian flag on stage and another holding up a banner with a hand-drawn Palestinian flag that said "disclose, divest" — the central demand of an encampment that has been set up on the St. George campus for more than a month.

Convocation ceremonies got underway Monday and will run June 21. In late May, the university requested an urgent court injunction that would authorize police to clear the encampment, but the earliest a hearing will be held is June 19 or 20.

As a result, most graduating students and their guests will walk past the tents, Palestinian flags and protest signs during their big day. The university said there will be about 13,000 students taking part in graduation ceremonies. 

The university said it's taking extra precautions like requiring students to show identification when they get their gowns and restricting bags and personal items brought into the hall. It also set up opaque fencing between Convocation Hall and the encampment.

"We also recognize that this is a challenging time for many in our community and we acknowledge the pain and suffering felt by those impacted by the conflict in the Middle East," the university said in an email Monday.

"With that in mind, we hope everyone will allow our graduating students to have their moment without disruption or interruption." 

The encampment began on May 2 and has steadily grown since, with students demanding the university disclose its investments in companies profiting from Israel's offensive in Gaza, among other things. Meanwhile, Jewish groups have asked for intervenor status in the injunction because they say the demonstrators have made Jewish students and faculty feel unsafe on campus.

Demonstrators hold ceremony for Palestinians

On Monday, pro-Palestinian students and faculty held their own graduation ceremony for students in Gaza who won't have one. In April, the United Nations said 80 per cent of schools in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed during the fighting. 

In Khan Younis, Gaza's Al-Aqsa University has mostly been destroyed and transformed into a garbage dump longer than Seattle's space needle. 

At U of T, students set up empty chairs representing Gazan students killed during the fighting. Esmat Elhalaby, an assistant professor of history at the university's Scarborough campus, said at the ceremony that the university's response to the demonstrators demands has thus far been insufficient. 

"Every Israeli bomb and every Palestinian death may be linked to us here in North America, in Canada, in Toronto," he said. "At this university, we're complicit in the mass murder of our colleagues and classmates."

Jewish groups want encampment gone

Earlier in the day, a coalition of Jewish groups held a news conference to share their concerns about the encampment, including the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto and Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center. 

Seth Goren, CEO of Hillel Ontario, told reporters that the encampment has fostered hate speech and violence. He cited the recent arrest of a 36-year-old man after an alleged assault at the encampment in early May. 

Police say the same man was previously arrested on Jan. 13 and charged with obstructing a police officer for allegedly refusing to leave the Avenue Road and Highway 401 overpass during a demonstration. Police had prohibited protesting in that area, citing public safety and concerns from those in the Jewish community there.

WATCH | Seth Goren shares experiences of U of T's Jewish community: 

Hillel Ontario CEO says hatred and bigotry ‘have no place on campus’

6 months ago

Duration 1:01

Jewish organizations seeking intervenor status in the injunction case initiated by the University of Toronto held a media availability on Monday morning, led by Hillel Ontario CEO Seth Gordon. The groups say they applied due to hate they say has escalated as a result of confrontations, hate speech and violence related to the encampment at King’s College Circle. Court approved the organizations’ application Monday afternoon.

There were no injuries in the alleged assault at U of T and police say it is not being considered a hate crime.

Goren said he and others were there to say hate and bigotry have no place in Canada. 

"Every U of T community member should feel safe and be free from harassment and intimidation on campus, and Jewish students, faculty and staff are no exception," he said.