When the first group of students parked up at Columbia University, it sparked a movement that has gripped schools across the world. These encampment protests have now gripped universities across Canada- at U of T, U UOttawa, McMaster, U of C, McGill, U of A, UBC, and Dalhousie.  

The encampments have sparked a debate on the legality and ethics of protests in shared spaces. We dive into the legality of the protests and we also ask why the police response looked so different across the country.

To find out, Mattea Roach asked journalist Justin Ling, professor Roberta Lexier and professor James Turk. We also speak with a professor in an exclusive interview who witnessed the police action against protesters at an encampment at the University of Calgary. 

Host:  Mattea Roach

Credits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

Guests: Justin Ling, Roberta Lexier, James L. Turk

Music credit: For What It’s Worth - Buffalo Springfield. Columbia Records (1966) 

Background reading:

• Queen’s Park and Gaza - Canadaland Wag the Doug
• 5 people arrested following pro-Palestinian protest at University of Calgary - CBC
• The Columbia Protests Made the Same Mistake the Civil Rights Movement Did - NYT
• What the backlash to student protests over Gaza is really about - VOX
• Protesters unsatisfied by the University of Toronto’s concessions to end encampment - Globe and Mail
• Quebec Superior Court judge rejects McGill injunction request to remove encampment - CBC

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