Pro-Palestinian protesters block entrance to McGill Bronfman building
Pro-Palestinian protesters blocked the entrances of McGill University's Bronfman building Thursday morning, calling on McGill's Desautels Faculty of Management to divest from interests in Israel.
"McGill, McGill take a stand, don't support stolen land," student picketers chanted.
The protest garnered national attention -- and outrage, in the case of Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller.
"The demonstration at, and so-called 'blockade' of a McGill management building named after a prominent Jewish philanthropist is a despicable act and needs to end," he wrote on X.
Liberal MP Anthony Housefather said the protest crossed a line and called out his alma mater for allowing it.
"I have expressed my anger to the administration. This must end," he wrote, also in a post to X.
Henry Topas, director for B'nai Brith's Quebec branch, said the organization received many complaints Thursday morning from parents and McGill students who don't feel safe on campus.
"They have targetted a building that is clearly identified with one of the most prominent Jewish families in Canada. The Bronfmans, who have done tremendous things for not only the Jewish community, but all Canadians," he told CTV News.
Though there was heavy police presence, Topas said he was told they could not intervene without McGill's permission.
"I don't believe it's only targetted against an Israeli program. I believe it's targetted against the Jewish community," said Topas.
The group that organized the protest, Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) McGill, wrote in a comment that:
"The Desaultels Faculty of Management hosts an exchange program with Israel including the Start-up Ecosystem trip to the Hebrew University—a university that works closely with the Zionist military, developing their weapons and strategies of terrorism to be used against Palestinians. The student body has clearly articulated that they demand divestment and boycott, and that there will be no business or classes as usual during an ongoing genocide which has killed over 30,000 palestinians."
Currently, both McGill and Concordia University are facing lawsuits alleging failures to combat antisemitism on campus.
In a statement to CTV News, McGill wrote:
"McGill Security Services arrived minutes after the protest began, and police arrived shortly thereafter. Building access was restored via the north entrance shortly after noon. To our knowledge, no one was prevented from exiting the building at any time. Due to the disruption, several classes were held online. Activities in the building will resume as usual on Friday, February 23."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Alberta's request for federal assistance approved after fast-moving wildfire hit Jasper National Park: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on social media that Ottawa has approved Alberta's request for federal assistance after a fast-moving wildfire hit Jasper National Park and its townsite late Wednesday.
Sale of envoy's NYC condo 'expected to exceed' $9M: government
The current official residence for Canada's representative in New York City is 'being readied for sale,' according to a spokesperson from Global Affairs Canada.
'Sick to my stomach': People grieve Jasper National Park by sharing favourite photos
As an out-of-control wildfire roared through Alberta’s famed Jasper National Park and its townsite late Wednesday, many are fearing the worst as officials warned of 'significant loss' within the area.
'I'm so broke': Two Toronto women speak out after losing $76,000 in romance scam
Two women from the Toronto area are speaking out after losing thousands of dollars to a romance scam, including a single mother who lost $62,000.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Loblaw, George Weston to settle class action over bread price-fixing for $500 million
Loblaw Cos. Ltd. and its parent company George Weston Ltd. say they have agreed to pay $500-million to settle a class-action lawsuit regarding their involvement in an alleged bread price-fixing scheme.
EXCLUSIVE One address, 76 foreign currency dealers: Inside Canada's money service business 'clusters'
An IJF and CTV News investigation has found dozens of cases across Canada where multiple money services businesses (MSBs) are incorporated at the same address, sometimes without the knowledge or consent of the location's actual occupant. One money laundering expert calls it an 'abuse of the system.'
A slight temperature drop makes Tuesday the world's second-hottest day
Global temperatures dropped a minuscule amount after two days of record highs, making Tuesday only the world's second-hottest day ever.
U.K. police officer suspended after video appears to show a man being kicked in head
A British police officer was suspended from all duties Thursday after a video was posted on social media that appeared to show an officer kicking and stamping on the head of a man lying on the floor of a terminal at Manchester Airport.