RCMP Arrests One Woman Amid Pro-Palestinian Protests at UBC

The RCMP arrested one woman during a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of British Columbia (UBC) campus in Vancouver. The protest, aimed at urging the university to sever ties with Israeli institutions and divest from companies linked to Israel, has been ongoing for over a month.

On Wednesday morning, Global News cameras captured the tense scene at Westbrook Mall and University Boulevard, where police officers intervened in the pro-Palestinian demonstration. The arrest of one woman was reported, with no additional arrests confirmed at this time.

As demonstrators continue to push for institutional changes in response to the conflict with Hamas, the university remains a focal point for this social justice movement.

The protesters demand that UBC cut ties with Israeli institutions and divest from companies associated with Israel amidst the ongoing conflict with Hamas. Their demonstration seeks to highlight and address their stance on the situation in Gaza.

The pro-Palestinian encampment, set up over a month ago, has sparked several demonstrations, including notable protests at the UBC Bookstore and the president’s office. Despite these activities, UBC President Benoit-Antoine Bacon emphasized in May that the university must remain neutral on the Gaza conflict, respecting the diverse opinions held by professors and students.

The protest caused temporary disruptions in campus transportation, with TransLink reporting that trolley buses were turning around at the Blanca Loop and diesel buses were being diverted. Bus services have since resumed.

Nick Day, a supporter of the protest, explained to Global News the rationale behind their disruptive actions. “I think 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 stated.

The RCMP’s intervention and the subsequent arrest mark a significant development in the ongoing pro-Palestinian protests at UBC. As demonstrators continue to push for institutional changes in response to the conflict with Hamas, the university remains a focal point for this social justice movement.