3 MUN students charged with trespassing after refusing to leave pro-Palestine protest on campus

In a statement released Saturday morning, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary confirmed that three students are each facing a single charge of petty trespassing after refusing to leave Memorial University's Arts and Administration Building.

These charges come in the wake of MUN asking the pro-Palestine encampment on campus to disband, citing Wednesday's Ontario Superior Court of Justice granting the University of Toronto an injunction to tear down the encampment on itsproperty.

Memorial University released a statement on Saturday morning as well, explaining thata small group of students hasbeen occupying, and sleeping in, the lobby of the Arts and Administration building since June 7.

According to thestatement, an inspection by the St. John's Regional Fire Department on Thursday outlined a number of safety issues with the protesters' encampment and occupation.

"On the same day, student protesters were notified, via their legal counsel, that they cannot continue to live in a building or camp on grounds meant for work and study," the statement said.

The university said Campus Enforcement and Patrol (CEP) officers asked protesters to leave on Friday evening. While most protesters followed the order,three did not and MUN called the RNC.

"Those three students were escorted from the building by CEP without force or incident," the universitysaid.

In itsstatement, the RNC said they "respect the right to a peaceful and lawful protest."

"The priority of responding officers was the safety of both the students and Campus Enforcement," the statement said.

"Officers responded to the Arts and Administration Building and spoke with demonstrators to explain the risks of not following the order of Memorial University."

Each of the three students isfacing a single charge of trespassing and will attend court at a future date.

MUN said the Arts and Administration building will remain closed for the weekend for cleanup.

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