McGill University says encampment of pro-Palestinian demonstrators violate campus policies

McGill University says the encampment on its downtown campus’ lower field has “tripled” since Saturday and officials say it is violating their policies.

Tents began going up at McGill – near the iconic Roddick Gates off Sherbrooke Street – Saturday afternoon, mirroring similar pro-Palestinian protest encampments on major U.S. campuses. Those began popping up following the arrest of more than 100 demonstrators at Columbia University in New York.

The students — those in the U.S. and Montreal — are calling for their universities to separate themselves from any companies that are advancing Israel’s military efforts in Gaza.

“Students have reiterated their intention to continue the encampment indefinitely, until McGill and Concordia divest from all companies,” that SPHR McGill, SPHR Concordia, Independent Jewish Voices McGill and Independent Jewish Voices Concordia say are profiting from the war.

Around 60 to 70 tents were in place on Monday.

“We have mass meetings twice a day where we make decisions, such as security, how we want our democracy to function,” said Zeca Eufemia, a McGill student.

“Students have the right to protest and this is very peaceful. There have been no instances of violence from our side,” said McGill student, Umnia Tareq.

In a statement on Monday morning, media relations for McGill said the situation “has shifted significantly.” The university says many of the tents, “if not the majority, are not members of the McGill community.”

“We’ve tried multiple ways to approach the university,” said Tareq. “There have been referendums that have been passed by eight per cent of the students at McGill. There have been rallies. There have been workshops. There have been teachings. There have been so many different ways that we’ve been trying to tackle this. And we believe that it’s time for an escalation.”

Officials of the university also claim they saw “video evidence” of some people using anti-Semitic language and intimidating behaviour, which some say is unfounded. 

They say they support the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly, “with the understanding that these must be exercised within the bounds of McGill’s policies as well as the law.” However, the university says their policies and laws are being violated.  

“The university has been in communication with lawyers retained by McGill students in the encampment, to discuss conditions in place to ensure safety as well as a timeline to remove the tents.”

They go on to say that through their lawyers, “the students have refused to carry on these discussions and did not bring any proposals or suggestions to further the dialogue. They have instead indicated that they intended to remain on campus indefinitely.”

“We’ll dismantle it when you divest, if you meet our demands, just listen to us,” said Ezra Rosen, a member of Independent Jewish Voices Concordia.

Montreal police spokesperson Véronique Dubuc tells CityNews on Monday morning that there are no plans for officers to move in and no arrests, that they are in communication with McGill officials. No police was seen on site.

On location, CityNews observed two campus security guards in the area of the encampment – from further away.

“Their presence here would not be useful. It would just increase conflict,” Rosen said. “So we are glad that there hasn’t been a police presence.”

“We need more tents please,” the group Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) McGill wrote on its Instagram story Sunday morning. “This is the most important supply we are asking for.”

Organizers shared – on social media and to a Telegram channel dedicated to the protest – a list of other items demonstrators needed, including lights, generators, batteries, towels, gloves, portable toilets, blankets, sleeping bags, tables and chairs.

“We’re just heeding the calls of our comrades in the United States to push for our demands and escalate, and make our presence unavoidable. To reclaim our campus,” a McGill student who chose to remain anonymous told CityNews on Sunday.

Late Monday afternoon, McGill said they’ve moved onto next steps governed by their operating procedures on demonstrations, protests and occupations, which include efforts to de-escalate before involving police assistance.  

They say, “should the situation evolve further beyond the University’s protocols, we will have a duty to request police support in order to protect the health and safety of all on site.”

“The students are prepared for anything whether it’s police, whether it’s security, whether it’s admin, we’re ready to stand our ground and fight for what we believe is right,” said Tareq.