Article content
Graduates from the Ivey school of business at Western University were greeted by pro-Palestinian protesters when they left left Alumni Hall following their convocation ceremony Thursday afternoon.
About 200 protesters then headed to the Ivey school of business on Western Road, where they chanted and drummed as Ivey graduates and their families also went back to the building.
Article content
“I mean . . . it’s fine,” said an Ivey grad who declined to give her name. “We were just enjoying our grad inside (Alumni Hall) and they didn’t come in. So it really didn’t bother us.”
Grads and their families entered and exited Alumni Hall and the Ivey building through back and side entrances to avoid the protesters, she said.
Some parents and grads entering the Ivey building following the 3 p.m. convocation ceremony made peace signs at protesters, who also made peace signs.
A group called the Western Divestment Coalition posted information on social media about a rally at 4:30 p.m. The group said Western University invests in military contractors that supply Israel and other companies tied to Israel.
A spokesperson for the protesters said they targeted the Ivey building because the school has an exchange program with Israel.
Western University did not issue a statement on the protest on its website or X, formerly Twitter.
In its last community update on May 29 about the encampment on campus, Western called on protesters to dismantle tents they set up outside the University Community Centre on May 8 and “not disrupt Western’s convocation ceremonies out of respect for their fellow students.”
Convocation ceremonies began June 10 and wrap up Friday.
Protesters are calling on Western to sever ties with Israel and companies doing business in the country.
The campus protests at Western and across North America are in response to Israel’s months-long military offensive into Hamas-controlled Gaza territory that’s killed nearly 37,400 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health authorities. Israel’s response was triggered by the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack by Hamas militants in which 1,200 people were killed and more than 240 taken hostage.
Share this article in your social network
