McGill asks for injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment, judge could rule Tuesday

Lawyers for McGill University are in court Monday seeking an injunction to dismantle the pro-Palestinian encampment that has been on its grounds since last month. 

In a judicial application for an injunction dated Friday, McGill says the encampment poses a “security, safety and public health risk” and has caused tensions to escalate on campus.

The filing cites “fierce verbal exchanges” between protesters and counter-protesters earlier this month, barrels of possible “human waste” on site, possible fire code breaches and the encampment’s potential as a “magnet” for further clashes with counterdemonstrators.  

Scott Weinstein of the group Independent Jewish Voices told reporters at the Montreal courthouse on Monday that doctors and nurses visited the camp and reject the university’s claim.

Weinstein maintains that the university is hypocritical by using sanitation problems as a reason to expel demonstrators.

“McGill refused to let those portable toilets be delivered to the camp and then they blame the students for the toilet situation,” he alleges.

RELATED: McGill University seeks injunction to remove pro-Palestinian encampment from campus

The protesters are demanding the university divest from companies they say are complicit in what they describe as Israel’s occupation of Palestine, and cut ties with Israeli institutions.

“Protesting is a right in Canada, and they are protesting McGill’s involvement, so to do it on the McGill campus, I mean where are they going to do it? In the basement of a parking garage somewhere? They do it at McGill because they are protesting McGill,” says William Sloan, a member of Palestinians and Jews United who was present in the courtroom Monday.

“So for McGill, let’s say, it’s disingenuous to talk about ‘let’s maintain order,’ there’s not much order right now in Rafah or anywhere in Gaza,” Sloan adds.

The protesters fenced off an area containing dozens of tents on McGill’s lower field on April 27, following a wave of similar campus protests in the United States.

“I think it’s so important to demonstrate,” says lawyer Julius Grey, representing Palestinians and Jews United. “Demonstrations are away of informing the public and we have affidavits that it’s peaceful and it’s not permanent.”

The university is asking a judge to order the protesters to stop camping on or occupying its grounds and to authorize Montreal police to assist the school in dismantling the encampment if called upon.

The first hours of the hearing were largely devoted to procedural matters, including determining who will be allowed to represent the defendants, who were listed in McGill’s court filing as “John Doe and Jane Doe.”

McGill President Deep Saini issued a statement on Friday saying the university is committed to discussing the protesters’ concerns in good faith, even if an order is granted.

On top of a doubling of the security detail on the quad, McGill said it will likely have to spend more than $700,000 on an alternate venue for spring convocation ceremonies that are typically held on the grounds partially occupied by the protesters.

At the end of the hearing on Monday, lawyers for McGill University didn’t comment, saying they’ll only speak once a decision is rendered, which may only come on Tuesday afternoon or it could even go to Wednesday.