Edmonton police answer questions about response to U of A encampment protest

The Edmonton Police Service held a news conference Friday to answer questions about the EPS response to the May 11 encampment on the University of Alberta campus.

The Edmonton Police Service held a news conference Friday to answer questions about the EPS response to the May 11 dismantling of an encampment on the University of Alberta campus.

Police also shared more videos to provide what they described as a more “fulsome” picture of the encampment, and what happened when police arrived and clashed with protesters.

EPS Deputy Chief Devin Laforce said the protest at the U of A started at 6:45 a.m. on Thursday, May 9. Campus peace officers told participants they were not allowed to camp there overnight. They were told repeatedly that they were trespassing, Laforce said, and signs were posted.

Over the next few days, there were “calls to action,” Laforce said, and indications the protesters intended to stay there. “This indicated a commitment to defy lawful direction as well as the intent to accumulate food and equipment for a longer-term occupation,” Laforce said.

It was one of several recent protests on academic campuses in Canada and the United States in response to Israel’s actions in Gaza.

At its peak on Friday, the U of A encampment had about 150 people and 40 tents, as protesters called on the university to cut ties with businesses and investments that support Israel.

Edmonton police said campus peace officers repeatedly gave demonstrators notice that they were breaching university policy and trespassing laws.

At around 4 p.m. Friday, the university requested police support to remove the encampment, Laforce said.