Pro-Palestinian protest starts up at UW again, despite previous lawsuit

The organizers of a pro-Palestinian student group were handed a $1.5 million lawsuit by the University of Waterloo last spring for setting up an encampment long term on university grounds. They said protestors were harassing or disturbing other students. Since then the lawsuit was dropped. A media liaison told 570 News Radio Kitchener they aren’t allowed to say much about it.

The protest was organized by UW Voices for Palestine and are part of a much larger, national movement that aims to end the war in Gaza.

Media liaison, Nick Joseph, said they have a lot planned, including a much bigger rally in a few weeks. Joseph is also the media liaison for OccupyUW, the group who organized the encampment setup on university grounds back in the spring of 2024.

“The encampment was a great segue into the future because it allowed us to begin more coordinated international actions. We are now connected with liberation groups for Palestine across the world,” Joseph told 570 News Radio Kitchener.

When asked if he fears another lawsuit landing at his or someone else’s door, Joseph said “let them come”, adding the students aren’t going to stop fighting.

“People one day are going to look back at what is happening right now, and say a genocide in the pure definition of the word and all of its barbarity happened before our eyes and they’re going to ask themselves: What did I do? Where was I? I think right now is a better time then ever to fight for liberation.”

A large group gathered outside of the Dana Porter Library on the arts quad and marched to the administration building Sept. 12.

During a speech Joseph said, “They have made the mistake of thinking that the end of the spring term was the end of student advocacy. They think that their threats and their lawyers will keep us silent and make us go home. Well let me make it plain, they aren’t fighting one dedicated group of students.”

A Waterloo Regional Police officer was seen watching the group as they marched through campus.

In a press release Sept. 3 UW’s President and Vice-Chancellor, Vivek Goel, said they are “adopting new freedom of expression principles, as proposed by the Task Force on Free Expression and Inclusive Engagement” and starting work on an action plan that would define UW’s position on specific topics related to freedom of expression.

“While we will continue to respect the rights of members of our community to engage in protest actions, our policies, procedures and rules will be firmly enforced. We will not tolerate behaviours which are illegal and disrupt the learning, research or work of other members of the community.   

Much of this work – and more – is well underway, and you can expect to hear more about our work over the course of this term, and beyond. 

With these initiatives, we aim to clearly articulate the University’s position and expectations of our community, and to help community members understand the policies and laws that govern free expression and appropriate conduct on campuses.  Our ultimate goal is to create a vibrant culture of intellectual exchange, open inquiry, free expression, and inclusive engagement.”

The full release can be read here.