University of Waterloo dropping lawsuit after protesters dismantle encampment

The University of Waterloo‘s president says nan schoolhouse is dropping its suit against members of nan pro-Palestinian OccupyUW activity aft nan encampment connected schoolhouse grounds was dismantled connected Sunday.

“Yesterday, nan encampment which formed connected Grad House Green connected May 13 was peacefully dismantled. Grad House Green is being restored to its accustomed information truthful that nan full organization tin erstwhile again bask nan abstraction together,” Vivek Goel said successful a statement.

“The University is now withdrawing its declare and injunction proceedings, ending nan ineligible actions it revenge connected June 25. “

Last month, nan schoolhouse announced that it had started ineligible proceedings against nan group successful an effort to clear nan encampment, which was first established connected assemblage grounds connected May 13.

The assemblage posted its connection of declare to its website, which said it was seeking $1.5 cardinal successful damages, from 7 group who were named arsenic defendants arsenic good arsenic others who were listed arsenic John and Jane Doe and chartless persons.

Then connected Saturday, nan schoolhouse issued a very little connection that said nan members of OccupyUW had said they were going to voluntary decamp by Sunday nighttime astatine 8 p.m.

In a connection posted to X, formerly known arsenic Twitter, OccupyUW said nan determination to time off nan field was a strategical one.

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“Our encampment has achieved an unprecedented number of wins, including getting nan assemblage to backmost distant from a $1.5 cardinal lawsuit,” nan connection publication successful part.

“However, we person go progressively alarmed that nan encampment now provides a centrally surveilled abstraction wherever they assemblage will proceed to enact its aggression, targeting student activism and activists connected campus.”

The OccupyUWaterloo activity was established successful consequence to nan ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

On its website, nan group said its demands see that nan assemblage to disclose each of its investments and get free of each investments connected nan boycott, divest and sanctions (BDS) list. It is besides asking nan schoolhouse to boycott Israeli world and taste institutions.