Pro-Palestinian student rally held at McGill University

Cheers roared and flags soared as hundreds of students gathered at McGill University’s downtown Montreal campus Thursday afternoon, in solidarity for Palestinian human rights.

“We are here to show that we are not going to be silenced and we will keep supporting Palestine until it is free,” said one student. “We are not giving up, even if 30 days passed.”

The rally organized by the student group, Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights McGill (SPHR), which says they answered an international call to action led by Shut It Down for Palestine – a call for all to show up and march for Gaza as a unified front.

“Right now the students have organized a walkout and a rally which combines four universities, Concordia, McGill, UQAM and UdeM,” said Sarah Shamy, an organizer with the Palestinian Youth Movement.

“Over 500 actions have been registered in solidarity with the Palestinian people demanding a ceasefire, a lifting of the siege on Gaza,” she said.

Shamy, urged “all the Canadian people to pass motions in their unions.”

Following the rally, members of the McGill student body marched through the main campus gates and into the streets of Montreal.

“The Palestinian student front has never been more united and strong,” one event organizer said, adding “we are just reaffirming our commitment to organizing and mobilizing for the Palestinian struggle, despite all of these repression and intimidation tactics.”