UBC community gathers for 'emergency rally' for Palestine

On March 21, community members gathered in what organizers called an “emergency rally” in support of Palestine in front of the Nest.

The rally was organized by groups UBC Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights, Palestine Strike Action UBC, UBC Social Justice Centre, UBC Staff for Palestine and UBC Grad Students for Palestine.

On March 18, Israel broke a two-month ceasefire that began on January 19. According to the UN Human Rights Office, Israel has resumed “indiscriminate” airstrikes and ground operations. Recently, a United Nations-appointed independent expert said “Israel’s conduct … amounts to a genocidal campaign to erase Palestinians as a people.”

The protest demanded UBC divestment from companies protestors say are complicit in Palestinian human rights violations.

Protestors also called on the AMS to “mobilize the 60,000 students they represent … and explain where and how to shut campus down with hard pickets.”

Last week, a student-proposed referendum urging the AMS to support a 2-day student strike from March 24–25 passed, with 76 per cent of 11,365 students voting in favour. In a March 22 email to the student body, the AMS endorsed the student strike, writing that “[it] encourages students to participate if they are able to in a peaceful strike and protest.”

Multiple Campus security officers were present during the protest. Four RCMP cars also trailed behind the protestors.

In a statement to The Ubyssey, Director of UBC Media Relations Matthew Ramsey wrote that “UBC respects the principle of peaceful protest and the tenet of freedom of expression within UBC's student code of conduct, discrimination policy, and the law.”

On March 19, UBC Provost Gage Averill released a statement on the student strike, writing “these actions are not sanctioned by the university.”

“We recognize that the conflict and violence in Israel, Gaza and neighbouring regions is an issue of deep concern for many in our community … Protest actions must remain peaceful, respectful, and within the boundaries of UBC policies and the law.”

At 2 p.m., the protest started off with speeches and chants led by organizers. One speaker condemned the detainment of Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil and Georgetown University student Badar Khan Suri under US President Donald Trump’s administration. Khalil took part in protests in support of Palestine at Columbia and the US Department of Homeland Security accused Suri of having ties to Hamas, which Suri denies.

“It is our job to challenge these institutions, so do not stop talking about Palestine [and] keep showing up,” said the speaker.

At 2:30 p.m, protestors marched toward Koerner Library, then along Buchanan, and finally convened on Maclnnes Field, where community members held an encampment last summer. The protest lasted until 3:30 p.m.

“Now the only thing that can actually work is shutting down the campus … now they cannot ignore us anymore,” said a protester.

First online March 24, 2025, 2:15 p.m.