Montreal police on Thursday afternoon evicted a group of pro-Palestinian protesters who had barricaded themselves a few hours earlier in an administrative building at McGill University. A total of 15 people were arrested in this operation in which security forces used tear gas. In addition to the entrenched protesters, dozens more had surrounded the premises. The arrests were made for trespassing, damage to property of others and obstruction of police work. Meanwhile, protests continue on other campuses in British Columbia, Alberta and Nova Scotia.
The authorities of McGill University, one of the most reputable in Canada, issued a statement after these incidents, stating that the institution “supports the right to freedom of expression exercised within the law, but strongly condemns the use of any form of intimidation, assault and harassment or the illegal tactics that we have witnessed.” Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante also stressed the right to demonstrate without breaking the laws, giving her full support to the police in a “difficult to manage” situation. For their part, some of the protesters pointed out on social networks that the seizure of the building is part of a new stage of protests as a result of the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Protesters set up camp on the grounds of McGill University on April 27. The Quebec Superior Court has already rejected two appeals filed seeking his eviction. At the beginning of May, a pro-Israel demonstration in front of this institution brought together hundreds of people. The police were present to prevent any disturbances between antagonistic groups. Representatives of the people who camp and university authorities maintain tense communication, accusing each other of bad faith. The protesters (not all students, according to McGill management and law enforcement) denounce the situation in Palestine, in addition to calling for the university to sever any economic or academic ties with Israel.
The protests on different campuses in Canada began a few days after their American counterparts did so. Some Canadian camps have already been dismantled. The protesters at the University of Quebec in Montreal abandoned this Friday the land they had occupied since May 12, after an agreement reached with directors of the institution. The Laval University camp (located in Quebec City) was dismantled by police on June 2; just a few hours after being built. The same fate met this Thursday at York University (in Toronto) after a day of being installed.
The authorities of the University of Toronto continue the dialogue with the protesters regarding the camp installed in an area of this academic center since May 2. The institution has also filed an appeal in court to request its dismantling. A hearing is scheduled for June 19. In a message to the university community, the rector, Meric Gertler, noted the following: “When a small fraction occupies a precious common space on our campus for more than a month and denies access to those who do not share their views, “The founding principles of the University of Toronto are called into question.”
Other protesters continue to camp at universities in British Columbia, Alberta and Nova Scotia. Doug Ford and François Legault, premiers of Ontario and Quebec, have publicly called for law enforcement to intervene to dismantle the camps. Both protesters and members of civil organizations denounce that both political leaders want to exceed their duties by requesting police action. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau noted in early May – when the first camps were set up – that we must have confidence in the way universities manage their own campuses.
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