Pro-Palestinian protest moves to City Hall as City, Province look for police accountability

Tense moments Tuesday afternoon at Edmonton City Hall as pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered in hundreds to protest against the Edmonton police response to the pro-Palestinian encampments on the University of Alberta campus.  

Protestors gathered outside city hall before they made their way inside the chambers where city councillors were holding a meeting with the Edmonton Police Service to review the EPS annual report.

This, with a significant security presence, including uniformed police and peace officers as well as security barriers at the main entrance.

Tuesday’s protest comes three days after police dismantled pro-Palestinian encampments at the University of Alberta while also arresting a number of people. Officers were seen using their batons on protestors, sparking criticism from the Edmonton mayor and city councillors.

“Those images are pretty disturbing. The community has a lot of concerns. I have a lot of concerns,” said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi.

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Andrew Knack, Councillor for Ward Nakota Isga says, “I’m very concerned at what looked like a very excessive use-of-force in a number of situations. I think there needs to be fair answers and I hope there will be a proper investigation.”

Michael Janz, Councillor for Ward Papastew adding, “I’m not aware of another time that pepper ball guns have been used before. The police are using new tools on peaceful protestors so how are they being held accountable.”

The province asked the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) to investigate how police officers dismantled pro-Palestinian protests on University of Alberta campus.

“There were reports raised of potential injury, so my Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services has committed that he will ask ASIRT to do an investigation just to make sure that there wasn’t any unreasonable use-of-force,” said Premier Danielle Smith.

Smith, however, stressed that universities have the right to ensure a safe environment for all their students.

In the wake of the removal of encampments on Saturday, the associate dean of equity, diversity, and inclusion at the University of Alberta, has resigned from that position.