Tag Archives: divestment

CKMS News -2025-05-29- An “Urgent Mobilization for Gaza” in Waterloo demands immediate government action to stop the killings in Palestine

CKMS News -2025-05-29- An “Urgent Mobilization for Gaza” in Waterloo demands immediate government action to stop the killings in Palestine

dan kellar
Waterloo, ON –
On Sunday May 25th, several hundred residents attended a demonstration in Waterloo which demanded that the Canadian government implement a full, two way arms embargo and sanctions against Israel.  Speakers at the demonstration called out the “ongoing genocide against Palestinians”, highlighted Canadian complicity in the violence through ongoing sales of weapon and technology, and linked the violent settler colonialism happening in the Palestine to the ongoing dispossession of Indigenous people of their lands in Canada.

This show features an interview with Nick Joseph, the media liaison for the demonstration. Joseph speaks about the demands made by demonstrators, the weapons industry in the region, and other actions folks in Canada can take to work towards justice for Palestinians.  Joseph was previously the spokesperson for the Gaza House protests at the University of Waterloo in 2024.

CKMS News reached out to the local members of parliament, including MP Chagger whose office was along the march’s route, asking for a response to the demands made by demonstrators, but did not receive a response from any of them.

CKMS News -2024-05-26- Support grows for “Gaza House” solidarity encampment at UWaterloo

CKMSNews-2024-05-26-CKMS News -2024-05-26- Support grows for “Gaza House” solidarity encampment at UWaterloo

by: dan kellar

Waterloo – The Gaza House solidarity encampment at the University of Waterloo continues to gather support while negotiations with the school’s administration have stalled. 

First, a letter of support from faculty, staff, and librarians from UW and Wilfrid Laurier University. Secondly, a statement of solidarity from the chairman of PSAC 902 which represents graduate students and teaching assistants at WLU. Then on May 25th Gaza House hosted a rally which brought out over two hundred supporters.

This show features Sarah, a student member of the encampment’s negotiating team. Sarah has requested partial anonymity due to safety concerns. CKMS News also spoke with Law Professor Irina Ceric about students’ protest rights and reactions to encampments from administration at different universities. 

CKMS News requested comment from UW administration and was told no one was available but that they “will look to see what we can do later this week”. The University has not responded to further communication.

International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people marked by Scotiabank protests in Uptown Waterloo

The UN International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on Wednesday was marked with a protest outside Scotiabank in uptown Waterloo.

November 29 is the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people, marks the passage of the United Nations Resolution 181 on November 29, 1947, which partitioned Palestine into Arab and Jewish states.

The group was protesting the bank’s involvement with Elbit Systems, which is the primary provider of drones and land-based equipment to the the Israeli military, and called on them to divest from the company.

The protest itself was peaceful and lasted for about 90 minutes during which Scotiabank locked its door and called police. Police questioned protestors but left soon after. Scotiabank refused comment, but in an email to Reuters earlier this week, the bank accused protestors of spreading misinformation and hate speech. Scotiabank stated their exposure to Elbit is via mutual funds managed by their asset management arm.That mutual fund is Scotiabank’s 1832 Asset Management mutual fund which is the third-biggest shareholder in Elbit.

In 2021, Elbit reported revenue of 5.28 billion USD.

This protest against Scotiabank follows several others in recent week, including on November 14, at the Giller Prize ceremony, which celebrates Canadian literature and which is sponsored by the bank, and on November 17 on Bay Street in Toronto.

Listen to the story above: