UOFT FACULTY PUT BODIES ON THE LINE TO PROTECT STUDENT PROTESTORS
May 30, 2024University of Toronto faculty members declared they would protect pro-Palestinian student protesters, despite the threat from college administration and police.
‘If you decide to move against the students, you’ll have to go through us first,” stated Deborah Cowen, a professor at the university who came to support the protestors.
“I’m outraged by our administration’s actions,” she said, pointing to what she called an “unprecedented” and “egregious” threat of mass termination and other forms of discipline.
“And that comes when we haven’t seen a serious good faith effort at negotiation,” she said.
This comes amidst efforts by the university to authorise police forces to dismantle the pro-Palestinian encampment at the uni.
The university has filed a notice of motion in court aimed at bringing about an end to the demonstration while saying the encampment was causing irreparable harm to the institution.
Among the relief sought, the university is asking for an order authorizing police to “arrest and remove persons, objects and structures” who violate the terms of a court order.
It is also seeking to prevent protesters from blocking access to university property or setting up fences, tents or other structures on campus.
This is a brilliant move by the faculty members! Students need the support of University staff! A coalition must form across universities to threaten the administration and prevent them from tearing down the encampments. DO NOT STOP UNTIL THE UNIVERSITY COMPLIES! KEEP RESISTING!
@aljazeeraenglish
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English Script:
Professor: As instructors bound by the duty to foster our students’ well-being. We are being told to step aside as our students are endangered. We echo the words of the Ontario Federation of Labor from their statement of support, adding our own twist. We say to our administration, If you decide to move against the students, you’ll have to go through us first.
Unknown man: You mentioned that if the university or the police were to come in, they have to go through the faculty. The OFL said they have to go through Labor first. Are you committing that if the police do come here, you all will be standing here?
Professors: Yes. Yes.
