Montreal students at the McGill encampment in solidarity with Gaza gave every indication they don’t intend for their stay on the university grounds to be short lived.
Several students from McGill and Concordia spent Saturday night at the camp, and intended to do so again Sunday.
“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.
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.
“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.
McGill University encampment in solidarity with Gaza on April 28, 2024. (Swidda Rassy, CityNews)
The encampment on McGill’s lower field was fenced off, with protesters calling the area a “liberated zone.” Stacks of water, food and other supplies could be seen inside the camp. There were more tents Sunday afternoon than there were Saturday.
“It’s beginning to grow and we’re encouraging the expansion,” the same McGill student said. “We have found a lot of support in community and each other.”
McGill University encampment in solidarity with Gaza on April 28, 2024. (Swidda Rassy, CityNews)
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.
“McGill you have blood on your heads,” one poster read. “Ceasefire now,” was written in chalk at the university entrance.
McGill University encampment in solidarity with Gaza on April 28, 2024. (Swidda Rassy, CityNews)
“This is a solidarity encampment, but it is as well an encampment that is meant to apply economic pressure and media pressure,” said Zeyad Abisaab with Concordia University’s Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) group.
“Above all, we are all human and what’s happening in Gaza in inhumane.
“We’re doing this because our people in Gaza are in desperate need of us.”
McGill University encampment in solidarity with Gaza on April 28, 2024. (Swidda Rassy, CityNews)
McGill campus security could be seen onsite Sunday afternoon, but Montreal police were not. The school had said that their security is in touch with police.
Abisaab, who spent the night in a tent, says police presence isn’t necessary.
“This horrible culture of bringing police on campus is horrible for students, it’s horrible for McGill,” he said. “It’s horrible for the reputation of Montreal. It’s horrible for the reputation of education, to bring police on campus and threaten students with arrest.”
McGill University encampment in solidarity with Gaza on April 28, 2024. (Swidda Rassy, CityNews)
CityNews reached out to McGill University for a comment, and they provided a statement from Saturday night, adding another would be sent later on.
“A group of protesters set up approximately 20 tents on the lower field of McGill’s downtown campus earlier today. They were later joined by a larger group who had participated in a protest in downtown Montreal, many of whom have now left the campus.
“The Dean of Students and a representative from McGill security instructed the protesters to remove their tents; they refused. The Dean also stressed that members of the McGill community are permitted to protest peacefully on campus within the bounds of the University’s policies, procedures and the law.
“As of the time of writing of this message, the protest has been peaceful and is contained to the lower field.”
Concordia University did not immediately respond to a request for comment.