RCMP Arrest One as Pro-Palestinian Protest Continues at UBC
Reported by Pushpa
On Wednesday morning, the RCMP arrested one woman during a protest at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver. The protest, captured by Global News cameras, took place at Westbrook Mall and University Boulevard.
The demonstrators, who have been active for over a month, are calling for UBC to sever ties with Israeli institutions and divest from companies linked to Israel amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas. Despite the arrest, no other protesters have been detained so far.
The protest has disrupted campus life, including bus services, which have now resumed normal operations. Previously, TransLink rerouted buses to avoid the protest area.
Demonstrations have also occurred at the UBC Bookstore and the president’s office. UBC President Benoit-Antoine Bacon addressed the demonstrators in May, emphasizing the university’s need to remain neutral on the conflict due to the diverse opinions held by its community.
One protest supporter, Nick Day told Global News that the disruption is intended to draw attention to Israel’s actions against Hamas. “By disrupting people’s daily commutes, it brings it to the forefronts of people’s minds, and I think that’s beneficial for the protest movement and for the social justice movement that is going on here right now,” he said.
