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
India's foreign minister reacts to murder charges, claims Canada welcomes criminals
India's Foreign Affairs Minister accused Canada of welcoming criminals from his country in response to the RCMP's recent arrests in a homicide that has roiled tensions between the two countries.
15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
'A tiny city:' Pro-Palestinian campus protesters organize for another week
Pro-Palestinian activists have set up tents at universities in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal, following a wave of similar protests at campuses in the United States linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
Lawsuit against Meta asks if Facebook users have right to control their feeds using external tools
Do social media users have the right to control what they see — or don't see — on their feeds?
A Holocaust survivor will mark that history differently after the horrors of Oct. 7
This year's Holocaust Remembrance Day, which begins on Sunday evening in Israel, carries a heavier weight than usual for many Jews around the world.
Princess Anne lays wreath at Battle of Atlantic ceremony; honours late Queen
Princess Anne saluted Canadian veterans and current forces members and honoured her late mother during separate ceremonies Sunday in Victoria as she wrapped up a three-day British Columbia West Coast royal visit.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.