A college professor who praised the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, as an “amazing, brilliant offensive” had her job reinstated by an arbitrator, only to later resign from her position. The Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of B.C. (FPSE) hailed the decision to reinstate Natalie Knight at Vancouver’s Langara College, citing it as a win for academic freedom and freedom of speech.
Knight was terminated by Langara College in January 2024 after a video surfaced of her lauding the October 7 attack as “amazing, brilliant” during a speech at the Vancouver Art Gallery on October 28, 2023. Following the incident, the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver demanded Knight’s dismissal. The college initially placed Knight on leave pending an investigation.
Despite being reinstated on January 18, 2024, Knight was reminded by the college to adhere to its policies and to ensure her actions do not endorse violence against civilians. However, Knight’s participation in a pro-Palestinian rally on January 23, 2024, carrying a sign that read “There is only one solution, Intifada Revolution,” led to her ultimate dismissal by Langara College.
The Langara Faculty Association challenged Knight’s termination, arguing that it violated various agreements, codes, and principles. The arbitrator, Randy Noonan, ruled in favor of Knight, stating that Langara failed to strike a fair balance in the case. Knight was ordered to be reinstated and compensated for lost wages.
In response to the public outcry, Selina Robinson, then B.C.’s minister of post-secondary education, criticized Knight’s actions, leading to her resignation in February 2024. Noonan clarified that Langara’s decision to part ways with Knight was not influenced by Robinson’s comments.
Ultimately, Knight decided to resign from Langara College following her reinstatement. The FPSE expressed gratitude to those who supported Knight during the ordeal and emphasized the importance of upholding academic freedom while acknowledging the impact of Knight’s statements on offended individuals. Knight declined to comment on the matter when contacted by CBC News, expressing hope that the decision would safeguard those advocating for Palestinian self-determination.