U of A defends decision to involve police in teardown of campus protest encampment

Multiple people at the protest camp torn down at the University of Alberta campus Saturday say police's actions against protesters were "violent" and "disproportionate."

The University of Alberta defended its decision to enlist police to clear out a pro-Palestinian camp Satuday, despite multiple campers calling the response "violent" and "disproportionate."

The camp began forming on the north campus of the university on Thursday, with students and demonstrators condemning the war in Gaza and demanding the school divest from companies "complicit in occupation, and apartheid and genocide" in Gaza.

Police said the camp was dismantled Saturday morning after "repeated notice to encampment participants by the university that their activities violate university policy," with a final notice issued to campers at 4:35 a.m.

At the time, the university estimated there were around 50 people at the camp.

Police said no one was injured, however pictures and video posted to social media show officers striking several demonstrators with batons.

"Campers were injured," said David Kahane, a professor at the University of Alberta who witnessed the teardown.

"I saw a bleeding baton injury, I saw bruises … one camper at least had to go to a clinic for emergency assessment x-ray for injuries, so it was aggressive. It was violent."