McGill requests 'police assistance' over pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University says it has "requested police assistance" about the pro-Palestinian encampment on its lower field.
"We informed participants that this encampment was not authorized and gave them time to gather their belongings and leave the premises," McGill said Tuesday. "However, most have chosen to remain. As we worked through the steps, we also engaged in dialogue with representatives of McGill students."
The university says it failed to reach a resolution with the student demonstrators and "decided to take the final step in our protocol."
The scene did not appear to be tense Tuesday morning while CTV reporters were on the ground.
"If McGill wants to find solutions to divest, they can. They're not wanting to. They're not having a dialogue right now and if they want to, there's always solutions to be had and I'm sure folks here would be more than happy for McGill to start moving on divestment," said one protester.
In an email addressed to the McGill community Tuesday morning, McGill President Deep Saini called the encampment a "difficult and complex situation.
"Having to resort to police authority is a gut-wrenching decision for any university president. It is, by no means, a decision that I take lightly or quickly. In the present circumstances, however, I judged it necessary," he wrote.
Saini said the school requested police assistance late Monday afternoon.
In its statement, McGill went on to say, "the safety and wellbeing of all our students and staff is our paramount concern."
Lawyer Neil Oberman has filed an injunction on behalf of students, arguing that they need a safe place to study during exams. A judge is expected to decide on the injunction Wednesday.
Michelle Hartman, a McGill professor who teaches Arabic literature at the Institute of Islamic Studies, said she's concerned about any possible police involvement.
"Whenever we involve police, it's a concern. I don't see a lot of escalation, I see a peaceful protest full of people. But why should we even think that we have to be peaceful when there is a horrific genocide unfolding? In fact, the main escalation is threatening to call the police on students. Why would we call the police on students? To me, that's really the escalation. It's not a de-escalation to call the cops on your students, is what I'm saying," she said.
This comes after demonstrators started camping out on the school's grounds last weekend to demand the university divest from funds they claim are connected to Israel.
They say they want McGill to divest from Israeli companies it says are "complicit in the occupation of Palestine."
They say they also want the school to cut academic ties with Israeli institutions and denounce Israel's offensive in Gaza that followed the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. The Israeli offensive has led to more than 34,000 Palestinian deaths, according to the local health ministry.
The encampment in Montreal is one of a wave of similar protests across university campuses in the United States linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
PWHL Minnesota defeats Boston to win inaugural Walter Cup
Minnesota won the inaugural championship of the Professional Women’s Hockey League on Wednesday night, getting 17 saves from Nicole Hensley to beat Boston 3-0 in a winner-take-all Game 5 and claim the Walter Cup.
Canadians are eyeing moves to these cities for more affordable housing
Faced with elevated housing prices, half of Canadians in the country's largest cities are considering moving to places with more affordable housing.
B.C. mortgage broker ran $270-million Ponzi scheme, then fled Canada, bankruptcy trustee says
The trustee appointed to manage the bankruptcies of a Victoria mortgage company and its owner has concluded that they committed "numerous offences" and operated as a "massive Ponzi scheme."
Oilers rally to beat Stars, tie Western Conference Final
With the Edmonton Oilers down two goals late in the first period of Game 4, Rogers Place was quiet, fans seemingly bewildered at the early, quick scoring of the Dallas Stars and the slow start by the home team. Ryan McLeod's marker with six-and-a-half minutes in the opening frame left changed all that.
McDonald's says $18 Big Mac meal was an 'exception' and their prices haven't risen that much
McDonald’s is fighting back against viral tweets and media reports that it says have exaggerated its price increases.
'Targeted again': Montreal police investigate after gunshot fired at Jewish school
Police are investigating another building in Montreal's community was struck by gunfire.
Tessa Virtue reveals she's expecting her first child. Here's what Canadians had to say
Canadian figure-skating icon Tessa Virtue is expecting her first child, she revealed via social media Tuesday.
Poilievre says Canadians 'fleeing' to Nicaragua, Liberals say it shows he 'doesn't have a clue'
Liberal parliamentarians are criticizing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre over a new video in which he promotes the idea that some Canadians are 'fleeing' Canada to live in Nicaragua because they can't afford a house in this country.
'Do not drive': Nissan warns Canadian drivers of explosion risk impacting 48,000 vehicles
Car manufacturer Nissan has issued a do-not-drive warning for some older vehicles equipped with Takata airbag inflators, due to the risk of explosion during a crash.