Edmontonians raise concerns at police commission meeting about protest removal at U of A

Members of the public attended the Edmonton Police Commission Thursday calling out EPS for their use-of-force in the removal of protestors at the University of Alberta.

In an unusual move, Thursday’s police commission meeting was online only, changing its usual practice of being open to the public.

Members of the public were allowed to speak at the end, telling their concerns about the use-of-force when officers tore down a pro-Palestinian encampment Saturday morning on the U of A campus.

“The University unleashed Edmonton Police on us with the sole purpose of hurting us, of intimidating us, and silencing us,” said Vahedah Mehrambani, a pro-Palestinian protester.

“They had no one protecting them from the attacks but you feel unsafe while you’re surrounded by heavy security guards throughout City Hall,” Mehrambani added.

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Alexander Dowsey, another protester asking, “What criteria did EPS use to justify their response? In particular what criteria was used to determine force was needed against protesters?”

Edmonton police veteran and criminologist Dan Jones says it is unheard of to move the meeting online but says the recent shooting at city hall could be one of the factors for changing venues.

“That heightened sense of security since the shooting at city hall is probably the thing that was responsible for that. Nobody thought somebody would ever go in and shoot. So that sense of security is probably the reason,” explained Jones.

But Jones says Edmonton police are bearing the responsibility and public blame when it should have been the University of Alberta that dealt with protesters.

“To me it’s more of a university issue then a police issue. Why was the action imperative to have these people removed from the university campus so focused by the university? Unfortunately, in some circumstances, police go in and do what they are asked to do from the complainant,” said Jones. 

Edmonton police say they will meet with media Friday.