Erin Mackey
Erin Mackey’s Leading the Pro-Hamas Encampment at the University of Toronto (UofT)
Erin Mackey organized and was the media spokesperson for a pro-Hamas encampment at UofT in May 2024. She also expressed support for Hamas terrorists while disrupting her graduation ceremony at UofT in June 2024.
On May 2, 2024, the first day of the encampment, Mackey said in a video interview [00:01:35] that after the students held an “occupation” outside the UofT’s president’s office in April, “...we were met with a non-answer, which is why we decided to escalate and be here today…”
On the same day, Mackey also said that since the university had told them to leave by 10 pm [00:00:56]: “...we are anticipating some sort of escalation in terms of campus police presence or Toronto police presence around that time. So, we’re asking and encouraging community members to show up and stand in solidarity…”
On May 3, 2024, Mackey said in a statement [00:00:21]: “...if they want this encampment cleared…they could commit to divest [from Israel]…”
On July 2, 2024, Mackey was named [p. 1] as a respondent in an “ORDER” and injunction brought against her and 10 others, plus an unspecified number of “PERSONS UNKNOWN” by UofT’s Governing Council.
The order, issued by a judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, instructed [p. 2] the respondents to “remove any and all structures tents, encampments and items of personal property” and “vacate” the encampment by “no later than 6 pm on July 3, 2024.”
The order further stated [p. 3] that the respondents were “restrained and enjoined from directly or indirectly…physically preventing, impeding, restricting or in any way physically interfering with…access to University property” and “erecting any fences, tents or barriers of any type on University property” or “using, entering or gathering at Front Campus, King’s College Circle between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.”
UofT is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Protesters harassed Jewish students, blocked Jews from campus facilities and shouted anti-Semitic slogans. They occupied campus grounds, in many cases illegally, caused property damage, violently took over buildings, celebrated terrorism and promoted the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Activists set up encampments to oppose Israel’s right to wage war against the Hamas terror group following October 7, 2023, when Hamas murdered approximately 1,200 people, including 32 American and 8 Canadian citizens. Hamas also kidnapped 252 people, including 11 Americans and the bodies of 2 murdered Canadians. As of May 26, 2024, 125 hostages remained in Hamas captivity.
The inverted red triangle is a symbol showing support for Hamas and Palestinian terrorism. It was first used by Hamas during the October 7, 2023 Hamas terror attacks to signify an Israeli target.
On the same day, Mackey also said that since the university had told them to leave by 10 pm [00:00:56]: “...we are anticipating some sort of escalation in terms of campus police presence or Toronto police presence around that time. So, we’re asking and encouraging community members to show up and stand in solidarity…”
On May 3, 2024, Mackey said in a statement [00:00:21]: “...if they want this encampment cleared…they could commit to divest [from Israel]…”
On July 2, 2024, Mackey was named [p. 1] as a respondent in an “ORDER” and injunction brought against her and 10 others, plus an unspecified number of “PERSONS UNKNOWN” by UofT’s Governing Council.
The order, issued by a judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, instructed [p. 2] the respondents to “remove any and all structures tents, encampments and items of personal property” and “vacate” the encampment by “no later than 6 pm on July 3, 2024.”
The order further stated [p. 3] that the respondents were “restrained and enjoined from directly or indirectly…physically preventing, impeding, restricting or in any way physically interfering with…access to University property” and “erecting any fences, tents or barriers of any type on University property” or “using, entering or gathering at Front Campus, King’s College Circle between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.”
UofT is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Pro-Hamas Encampment at the University of Toronto
On May 2, 2024, activists from the UofT Occupy for Palestine (Occupy UofT) group “stormed down” [00:00:24] the fencing around UofT’s Kings College Circle and set up a pro-Hamas encampment, which they called the “People’s Circle for Palestine.”That day, Occupy UofT called on “community members to…help us defend our encampment” at an emergency rally in the evening. Protesters chanted [00:02:59] for “intifada” and celebrated “resistance” [00:02:45]. Both terms are calls for terrorism. The activists also chanted [00:01:28; 00:02:21] for Israel’s destruction multiple times.
One speaker, Nabil Jalbout, said [00:09:02]: “...we are not fighting for peace, we are fighting for liberation, because ‘peace’ is a white man's word.” Another speaker, Ahmad Jarrar Hajahmad, claimed [00:05:52]: “All these Israeli and Zionist entities fill all these politicians with money in their pockets…we already know who runs this system…”
Signs displayed at the encampment said: “LONG LIVE THE INTIFADA” and “LIBERATION FOR ALL REQUIRES RESISTANCE FROM ALL.”
On May 4, 2024, anti-Israel protesters at the encampment assaulted a Jewish man, punching him in the stomach as they forcibly took his Israeli flag. The attackers told the man [00:01:02]: “God bless the armed resistance,” and: “Go back to Europe!” They also reportedly called him “a “dirty Jew.”
Protesters “occupied” [00:00:17] the area from May to July 2024, despite UofT’s warning they were trespassing. The group said they would not leave until UofT divested from companies that “sustain Israeli apartheid, occupation and illegal settlement of Palestine” and terminated partnerships with Israeli academic institutions.
Following the October 7, 2023 massacre of nearly 1,200 Israelis, the inverted red triangle -
- became a Hamas symbol. This symbol appeared on large signs at the encampment multiple times. Erin Mackey, one of the primary organizers, is openly pro-Hamas, having used the symbol in her activism. In addition, pro-Hamas marches that began in other parts of the city concluded at the encampment.
One speaker, Nabil Jalbout, said [00:09:02]: “...we are not fighting for peace, we are fighting for liberation, because ‘peace’ is a white man's word.” Another speaker, Ahmad Jarrar Hajahmad, claimed [00:05:52]: “All these Israeli and Zionist entities fill all these politicians with money in their pockets…we already know who runs this system…”
Signs displayed at the encampment said: “LONG LIVE THE INTIFADA” and “LIBERATION FOR ALL REQUIRES RESISTANCE FROM ALL.”
On May 4, 2024, anti-Israel protesters at the encampment assaulted a Jewish man, punching him in the stomach as they forcibly took his Israeli flag. The attackers told the man [00:01:02]: “God bless the armed resistance,” and: “Go back to Europe!” They also reportedly called him “a “dirty Jew.”
Protesters “occupied” [00:00:17] the area from May to July 2024, despite UofT’s warning they were trespassing. The group said they would not leave until UofT divested from companies that “sustain Israeli apartheid, occupation and illegal settlement of Palestine” and terminated partnerships with Israeli academic institutions.
Following the October 7, 2023 massacre of nearly 1,200 Israelis, the inverted red triangle -
- became a Hamas symbol. This symbol appeared on large signs at the encampment multiple times. Erin Mackey, one of the primary organizers, is openly pro-Hamas, having used the symbol in her activism. In addition, pro-Hamas marches that began in other parts of the city concluded at the encampment.On July 3, 2024, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice issued an injunction at the request of UofT’s Governing Council, requiring students to clear the encampment. Occupy UofT dismantled the encampment and wrote [slides 5-6]: “We are just getting started…come fall, every incoming student will hear our message loud and clear…Whatever institution you have access to and influence over - you need to take this campaign there!” The statement concluded: “Long live the intifada.”
Background on Pro-Hamas Encampments
The encampment was one of over 140 pro-Hamas and anti-Israel college encampments set up in North America, and over 20 more globally, in the spring of 2024. The first began on April 17, 2024, at Columbia University. The encampments were unofficially known as the “student intifada,” borrowing a term associated with terrorist violence.Protesters harassed Jewish students, blocked Jews from campus facilities and shouted anti-Semitic slogans. They occupied campus grounds, in many cases illegally, caused property damage, violently took over buildings, celebrated terrorism and promoted the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Activists set up encampments to oppose Israel’s right to wage war against the Hamas terror group following October 7, 2023, when Hamas murdered approximately 1,200 people, including 32 American and 8 Canadian citizens. Hamas also kidnapped 252 people, including 11 Americans and the bodies of 2 murdered Canadians. As of May 26, 2024, 125 hostages remained in Hamas captivity.
For more information on the October 7, 2023 terror attacks, see the Canary Mission page on Hamas.
Erin Mackey’s Support for Hamas Terrorists
On June 21, 2024, Mackey disrupted [00:00:05] a graduation ceremony at UofT by displaying a banner with text that read: “DISCLOSE DIVEST / FREE PALESTINE,” with inverted red triangles on both sides. Mackey then sat down [00:00:08] on the floor of the podium, holding the sign.The inverted red triangle is a symbol showing support for Hamas and Palestinian terrorism. It was first used by Hamas during the October 7, 2023 Hamas terror attacks to signify an Israeli target.
On the same day, Mackey posted on X: “I’m graduating from @uoft today on the last day of graduation and they pulled me out of the procession line to search my bag and took my banner 
/ #freepalestine.”
In the same thread, Mackey posted a photo of herself sitting on the podium, holding the sign, and wrote: “shoutout to the lovely graduate who gave me their banner last minute. @UofT rly thought they could stop me lmao as if.”
As of August 2024, Mackey’s LinkedIn profile said she had been Canadian coalition organizer at Campus Climate Network since June 2023.
Also as of August 2024, Mackey’s LinkedIn said she graduated from UofT with a bachelor’s degree in political science and environmental studies in 2024.
As of the same date, Mackey’s LinkedIn said she was located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
/ #freepalestine.” In the same thread, Mackey posted a photo of herself sitting on the podium, holding the sign, and wrote: “shoutout to the lovely graduate who gave me their banner last minute. @UofT rly thought they could stop me lmao as if.”
Erin Mackey’s Anti-Israel Activism, Work and Education
Mackey is a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.As of August 2024, Mackey’s LinkedIn profile said she had been Canadian coalition organizer at Campus Climate Network since June 2023.
Also as of August 2024, Mackey’s LinkedIn said she graduated from UofT with a bachelor’s degree in political science and environmental studies in 2024.
As of the same date, Mackey’s LinkedIn said she was located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Social Media and Weblinks
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/erin.mackey.75Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinmackey_/ [Private]
- Status:
- Professional
- University:
- Toronto
- Organizations:
- BDS
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- Last Modified:
- 05/04/2026
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