Canadian judge gives pro-Palestinian protesters 72 hours to pack up and leave

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Canada (AA) – A Canadian Supreme Court judge issued a ruling Thursday that gave pro-Palestinian protesters a three-day deadline to dismantle their encampment at Vancouver Island University in British Columbia.

But while the university went to court to get the demonstrators off all parts of the campus, Justice Michael Stephens said they only had to vacate an outdoor location currently occupied, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

In addition, the order is for 150 days rather than permanent.

Up to 35 people had been at the encampment, which was set up more than 100 days ago, demanding the university recognize the “genocide of Palestinians” and disclose any ties with firms that were “complicit in human rights violations.”

University officials argued that the protesters were “belligerent” and called the administration “incompetent.” The university also said the demonstrators cost the school $870,000 and culminated in the resignation of some staff.

Some groups went to bat for the protesters, including the National Council of Canadian Muslims, the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association and the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA).

The BCCLA was vocal about its displeasure with the ruling.

"Freedom of expression should be protected unless there is an exceptional justification for its restriction," BCCLA lawyer Ga Grant said in a written statement.

"Today, the court missed a critical opportunity to align the law with our Charter rights and values," Grant added.