Over the weekend, around a hundred people set up an encampment on McGill campus demanding the university divest from Israel-connected funds. They are calling for McGill to sever financial ties with Israel due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The spokesperson of the encampment stated that they want the university to divest from all holdings that finance the Israeli military, including weapons manufacturers and real estate agencies. They are also calling for an academic boycott with Israeli institutions. Demonstrators, who set up tents and fences on campus, are committed to staying until their demands are met. Signs at the protest read, “You are funding genocide,” “Free Gaza now,” and expressed solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
Similar protests have taken place at U.S. university campuses, inspired by a demonstration at Columbia University in New York. Some schools have experienced police interventions, student arrests, allegations of antisemitism, and calls for the National Guard to dismantle the camps. McGill issued a statement saying that while members of the university community have the right to freedom of expression and assembly, erecting tents without approval violates university policies and laws. Liberal MP Anthony Housefather expressed concern over the protests, urging school administrators, police, and city officials to remove the encampments to ensure student safety during final exams.
Quebec’s Higher Education Minister Pascale Dery also expressed concern over the unauthorized encampment at McGill, stating that it is up to the university to ensure the safety of students as exams approach. As of Sunday evening, the protest at McGill remained peaceful, with no arrests or police intervention necessary. Montreal police are monitoring the situation and are prepared to assist the McGill security team if needed. Global News reached out to Jewish student group organizations for a response but did not receive a reply. The university’s investments in companies like Lockheed Martin, a defense contractor that sells fighter jets to Israel, have come under scrutiny by the demonstrators.
Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, concerns have been raised about the impact on student safety and the disruption of normal campus activities. Calls have been made for the removal of the encampment to ensure that students can access campus for their exams without fear. As the situation continues to unfold, McGill and Montreal police are monitoring the protest closely to ensure that it remains peaceful and does not escalate. The issue of divestment from Israel-connected funds has sparked debates on university campuses not only in Canada but also in the United States. Students are using their right to protest and demand change, while officials are balancing the need for safety and order on campus.
