A group of pro-Palestinian protesters marched through Carleton University’s campus calling on the Board of Governors to divest from companies with ties to Israel on Thursday.
Organized by Students for Justice in Palestine, the group’s leaders said the protest was put on to pressure the Board of Governors to stop funding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“Since as far back as 2014, students have demanded divestment from Carleton to end their complicity in the occupation of Palestinians,” said Bessan Amer, a member of SJP.
Dozens of students stopped to listen to speeches and chants, with some walking out of their classes to join the demonstration.
Some protestors held signs criticizing the university’s administration, such as “Carleton University, you have blood on your hands.”
“This building was named after David Azrieli, who was an Israeli soldier who served in the Nakba,” she said. “Not only does Carleton invest in the genocide of the Palestinian people, but they also take money from our occupier and name a building after them.”
Protesters marched around campus and arrived at Richcraft Hall while the Board of Governors meeting was taking place inside.
Campus security locked Richcraft Hall doors and monitored the crowd from inside.
Victoria Dutton, a second-year childhood and youth studies student who attended the protest, said it’s important for people to raise their voices for the Palestinian cause.
“This issue is not new and it’s important that we attend protests and boycott,” Dutton said. “There is a legacy (of resistance) and there are people we need to protect.”
After an hour of protest, a member of the Board of Governors told protest organizers they would allow two students inside to share their demands with administration.
Both representatives, which included Amer and another member of SJP, Nada Shubair, walked out of a meeting that lasted about 45 minutes to applause.
Amer said the Board of Governors would provide a follow-up regarding the demands but added, “That’s not divestment, is it?”
“No!” protestors chanted back.
Near the end of the demonstration, Matthew Hawkins, an anthropology professor at Carleton, stopped to speak to student protestors.
“As a member of Faculty for Palestine, I support all of your actions to find justice,” Hawkins told the crowd.
“There is justice for Palestinians in Palestine and all around the world.”
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Featured image by Kathan Kapoor/the Charlatan.
