Dozens of high school students made their way to McMaster University Wednesday afternoon, to show their support for the pro-Palestinian encampment on campus.
It’s been 10 days since tents were set up behind the Burke Science Building — there’s now around 60 of them. And a few extra people on Wednesday as students from high schools across Hamilton came to show their support on Nakba Day.
This day is recognized every May 15, as a day to commemorate the displacement of Palestinian people following the declaration of Israel’s independence in 1948.
It is often a day of protest in Gaza. Protesters at McMaster are demanding the university end financial investments and academic collaborations with Israel.
They’ve been in talks with McMaster for the past few days and now they tell CHCH News they’re expecting a “plan of action” from the university Thursday.
On Tuesday, 122 faculty members signed a letter to the university’s top brass in support of protesting students.
McMaster has not responded to several requests for an on camera interview with CHCH, instead it points to previous statements.
“Earlier today, the negotiations team met with the Dean of Student Affairs. The university is planning to present the negotiations team tomorrow afternoon with an action plan to meet the students’ demands,” said one of the representatives at the protest.
“We hope the plan of action will be reflective of the university’s commitment to equitably prioritizing human rights, taking a principled stance against a genocide, and an occupation of an Indigenous peoples. Negotiations have been constructive. We applaud the university for respecting their commitment to open dialogue and we hope we can make something out of this”
The representative did not provide their name, citing safety concerns.
Hamilton police say they are in regular contact with McMaster and have not been called for any incidents involving the encampment.