Encampment protest updates
Student-led protest continues on Fort Garry campus
What you need to know
The Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) continue to protest at the Fort Garry campus. We’ll provide updates here when there is new information.
- Regular university activities will continue as planned and in-person work should continue.
- Normal class schedules and modes of delivery will continue. Students who wish to request an accommodation should follow the normal process.
- N lot is not currently available for parking. Parking Services will communicate any updates directly with those who have parking passes for N lot.
- Road closures will be kept at a minimum and will be marked with appropriate and clear signs. Current closures include:
- N-lot (Chancellors Circle)
- Dafoe Road between Maclean Crescent and Alumni Lane (from Tache Building to Art Lab building)
- UM outdoor spaces are open to the public and we must respect the right to peaceful protest and assembly within the bounds of university policies and the law.
- UM Security Services is monitoring the situation and continues to be in contact with organizers. As with all events on our campuses, the expectation is that this will remain a safe and respectful environment.
- If a situation escalates beyond the scope of Security Services authority, we will work with the Winnipeg Police Service to ensure a safe environment.
- Any person involved in conduct that contravenes university policies or the law, including speech advocating or glorifying intimidation, hate, or violence against specific individuals or groups, will be subject to consequences in accordance with university policy and the law.
- If you are welcoming guests to campus that generally use Chancellor’s Circle for drop off/pick up due to accessibility requirements, please work with parking services for alternative options. They can also assist you if you require information on accessible parking options in lieu of N lot.
- Please check the Winnipeg Transit service alerts for changes to transit routes on campus.
May 13, 2024
Members of university leadership met this afternoon with student representatives from SJP.
May 10, 2024—Message from Dr. Diane Hiebert-Murphy, Provost and Vice-President (Academic)
Hello UM community,
Late last week, we learned that Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) was planning a protest encampment at the Fort Garry campus on May 7-9. Student Affairs and Security Services both immediately reached out to SJP to discuss the expectation that the event remain peaceful. Since the start of the protest on Tuesday morning, Security Services has been on site to monitor the situation and ensure a safe environment.
Although SJP publicly communicated their intention to remove the encampment as planned, tents remained last night, and a protest continues today. There are now also plans for outside groups to protest at the Fort Garry campus on Saturday, which has resulted in the very unfortunate cancellation of Science Rendezvous.
We understand that events can impact members of our community in different ways and encourage anyone who needs to talk or seek support to reach out to our counseling services, which are available to all students and employees.
May 6, 2024—Message from Dr. Diane Hiebert-Murphy, Provost and Vice-President (Academic)
Hello UM community,
The University of Manitoba is committed to being safe and welcoming for all. We support the right of our university community to freedom of expression and to assemble and protest in accordance with university policies and the law.
As you may know, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) has planned a protest at the Fort Garry campus, tentatively scheduled for 9 a.m. until 11 p.m. from May 7-9. SJP has communicated that this is a student-led event and only students are invited to attend.
UM Security Services is monitoring the situation and continues to be in contact with organizers. As with all events on our campuses, the expectation is that this will remain a safe and respectful environment.
Regular university activities will continue as planned, including in-person work. We remind everyone to be kind, respectful and compassionate to one another.
If you did not see it last week, you can find this message to the UM community on relevant policies and our commitment to freedom of expression.
We understand that events can impact members of our community in different ways and encourage anyone who needs to talk or seek support to reach out to our counseling services, which are available to all students and employees.