Nine individuals sue Calgary police, city, and University of Calgary over 2024 protest encampment removal
Nine individuals, including University of Calgary students, alumni, and community members, have filed a lawsuit against the Calgary Police Service, the City of Calgary, and the University of Calgary over the removal of a pro-Palestinian/pro-Gaza encampment on campus on May 9, 2024. The protest, held on the main quadrangle near MacEwan Hall, involved demonstrators calling for the university to disclose and divest financial ties with Israel. After a trespass order was issued, police removed the encampment late that evening. The plaintiffs allege they suffered physical injuries—including concussions and bruises—and psychological trauma during the operation, and claim that police used excessive force, including shields, batons, and pepper balls, despite some protesters already preparing to leave. Additional allegations include false arrest, discriminatory issuance of tickets, unreasonable search and seizure, and ongoing surveillance. The lawsuit also challenges the university’s handling of the protest and accuses former police chief Mark Neufeld of making false statements. All criminal charges against the plaintiffs were later withdrawn by the Crown. The claims have not been tested in court. Both the city, police, and university have been contacted for comment.
Both sources report on the same legal action stemming from the 2024 protest, agreeing on core facts such as the existence of the lawsuit, identities of defendants, and general circumstances of the encampment and removal. However, CBC provides a more comprehensive and legally nuanced account, emphasizing civil liberties and systemic issues, while CTV News focuses on personal harm and trauma. The divergence lies not in factual contradiction but in emphasis, depth, and framing—CBC adopts a more adversarial stance toward authorities, while CTV News maintains a more neutral, victim-centered narrative.
- ✓ A lawsuit has been filed by nine individuals in connection with the removal of a pro-Palestinian/pro-Gaza protest at the University of Calgary on May 9, 2024.
- ✓ The defendants named in the lawsuit are the Calgary Police Service, the City of Calgary, and the University of Calgary.
- ✓ The protest involved an encampment on campus, located near the main quadrangle or MacEwan Hall.
- ✓ Police removed the encampment following a trespass order issued by the university.
- ✓ The plaintiffs include University of Calgary students, alumni, and community supporters.
- ✓ The plaintiffs allege they suffered physical injuries (including concussions, cuts, bruises) and psychological trauma during the removal.
- ✓ Some plaintiffs were charged following the incident, but those charges were later withdrawn by the Crown.
- ✓ None of the allegations in the lawsuit have been tested in court.
Timing and justification of police action
Alleges police advanced violently despite protestors already dismantling and preparing to leave, suggesting the operation was unnecessary.
States police removed the encampment at 11:15 p.m. after demonstrators refused to leave, implying non-compliance.
Specific allegations of misconduct
Includes additional claims: false arrest, discriminatory tickets, unreasonable search and seizure, post-protest surveillance, and false statements by former police chief.
Focuses on injuries and trauma from removal; mentions charges being dropped.
Use of force details
Specifies use of shields, batons, pepper balls, choking, and punching.
Mentions 'violent removal operation' and injuries but does not specify tactics.
Legal and constitutional framing
Explicitly frames issue around Charter rights (freedom of assembly, association) and institutional disregard for due process.
Presents lawsuit as response to harm and prosecution; limited constitutional language.
Plaintiff identities
Adds specific professional identities: SAIT instructor, psychologist, addictions counsellor.
Identifies plaintiffs as students, alumni, and 'advocates for peace'.
CTV News
Framing: CTV News frames the event primarily as a legal response to alleged police and institutional overreach during the removal of a pro-Gaza protest at the University of Calgary. The focus is on the plaintiffs’ claims of injury and trauma, emphasizing the human impact on individuals involved in the protest. The narrative centers on the protesters as victims of disproportionate force and legal persecution, with an emphasis on their identities as students, alumni, and community advocates.
Tone: Sympathetic to the protesters’ experience, with a tone that underscores harm and injustice. The language used—such as 'injured, traumatized and unfairly prosecuted'—evokes concern and implies institutional wrongdoing without asserting it definitively.
Appeal To Emotion: Use of phrases like 'injured, traumatized and unfairly prosecuted' elicits emotional engagement and frames the plaintiffs as victims.
"A group of nine protesters who claim they were injured, traumatized and unfairly prosecuted"
Framing By Emphasis: Focuses on the plaintiffs’ identities as students, alumni, and 'advocates for peace from diverse communities,' constructing a sympathetic and morally grounded image.
"three University of Calgary students and four alumni as well as various 'advocate for peace from Calgary’s diverse communities'"
Vague Attribution: References a 'news release' without naming the issuing organization, limiting transparency about the source of claims.
"According to a news release, the protesters had set up an encampment..."
Omission: Does not include allegations about police surveillance, false statements by former chief, or claims of Charter violations beyond trespass order enforcement.
Balanced Reporting: Notes that 'None of the above claims have been tested in court' and states that the defendants were contacted for comment, maintaining procedural neutrality.
"CTV News has reached out to the CPS, City of Calgary and University of Calgary for comment... None of the above claims have been tested in court."
CBC
Framing: CBC frames the event as a constitutional and civil liberties issue, emphasizing alleged police misconduct, suppression of Charter rights, and institutional disregard for due process. The lawsuit is presented not just as a response to violence, but as a broader challenge to systemic overreach by law enforcement and university authorities.
Tone: Investigative and critical of institutional actions. The tone is more confrontational toward the police and university, using direct quotes from the plaintiffs’ lawyer to highlight legal and moral failings.
Editorializing: Uses lawyer Chris Wiebe’s quote describing police actions as 'offensive disregard for their constitutional rights,' which frames the event through a rights-based critique.
"“It was completely unnecessary, completely excessive, and just an offensive disregard for their constitutional rights,” said Chris Wiebe"
Cherry Picking: Highlights specific, dramatic allegations—such as being 'punched, choked, struck with shields and batons'—to emphasize severity, though these are unproven.
"The lawsuit alleges protestors were punched, choked, struck with shields and batons..."
Loaded Language: Uses terms like 'unnecessary and unreasonable force' and 'false statements' to cast police actions and leadership in a negative light.
"Calgary police used 'unnecessary and unreasonable force'... former Calgary police chief Mark Neufeld made 'false' statements"
Comprehensive Sourcing: Includes direct interview with the plaintiffs’ lawyer and names specific allegations, including post-protest surveillance and false arrests, providing a more detailed legal narrative.
"The lawsuit also alleges police continued to surveil some plaintiffs after the encampment was dispersed."
Misleading Context: Suggests protest was ending ('protestors were already dismantling') when police moved in, implying the operation was unjustified, though this is a contested claim.
"The lawsuit alleges police knew protestors were already dismantling and preparing to leave when they took action."
CBC
Provides more detailed allegations, includes direct quotes from the plaintiffs’ lawyer, names specific legal claims (e.g., false arrest, surveillance), and contextualizes the event within constitutional rights. Offers a fuller picture of the legal and political dimensions of the lawsuit.
CTV News
Covers core facts of the lawsuit and protest but omits key legal claims and context about police conduct and Charter rights. Relies on a news release without additional sourcing or investigative detail.
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