A group of Palestine Solidarity Encampment (PSE) members took their protest to the next level.
On Tuesday, June 11, a group of about a dozen protestors gained access to the Office of Provost and VP Academic on the Vancouver Island University (VIU) campus in Nanaimo, a building that requires employee card access and is secure.
Protestors indicated their support for the PSE’s demands to the VIU staff members in the building, who had to be escorted out of the building by campus security for their safety.
Security told the protestors at least six times they were trespassing and asked to leave and threatened RCMP involvement if they didn’t listen.
RCMP did arrive on scene, but no interaction was had with the protestors who left through a window after the incident lasted for more than two hours.
No arrests were made and a press release from VIU said these actions from the PSE crossed a line and went too far.
“VIU remains committed to supporting peaceful protest and the rights to freedom of expression and assembly. However, actions that breach university policies, disrupt the safety and security of our staff, and violate private and secure areas cannot be condoned.”
At the same time during the building breach, VIU agreed to meet with the PSE, and had a productive meeting that included the university sharing information in exchange for an agreement that the organization would not interfere with convocation ceremonies.
