Camp at McGill | High tensions between police and pro-Palestinian demonstrators

Clashes between demonstrators and police were heated Thursday evening on the campus of McGill University and in the surrounding area, as pro-Palestinian demonstrators barricaded themselves for nearly two hours in the James administration building.

Dozens of demonstrators gathered in the pouring rain in front of the building in support of those who occupied the pavilion. Tension then gradually increased, pushing the Montreal Police Service (SPVM) to use irritant gas and charge the crowd.

“Students occupied and blocked the James administration pavilion in protest of the current escalation in Rafah and the genocide taking place in Gaza,” said Sandra*, who came to demonstrate before the arrival of the police.

She explains that the students had “no choice” to take “exceptional measures” in the face of McGill’s refusal to respond to the demands of the occupants of the encampment on the McGill campus.

Zeyad is part of the Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights group at Concordia University. Like many demonstrators, he responded to the call launched on the networks to come and support the barricaded students.

“The student and world spirit will never stop as long as the University is complicit,” he said. Complicity with genocide will never be normalized. »

The students then wanted to occupy the building as long as the University did not commit to severing its financial ties with the Israeli state. Police officers were then dispatched to the scene at the request of McGill University, according to Radio-Canada.

“Protesters are currently occupying the main administration building, located on the downtown campus,” the University simply declared. The police as well as [notre] security service […] are on site. »

“We will not stop”

The demonstrators then played cat and mouse with the police on campus before spreading into the surrounding streets as far as Saint-Laurent Boulevard. Pyrotechnic devices were also fired at the police.

“As long as our administration does not listen to us, we will not stop,” explains Jay*, who came to demonstrate on campus. We will stay all night if necessary to protect the students. [barricadés]. »

“The students see that there is an escalation in Rafah, so it can only begin to [s’intensifier] here too, adds Jay*. As long as we see violence [s’intensifier] and bombs falling with impunity, we will become more and more passionate about the cause. »

This event was part of the global #escalate4rafah appeal which aims to increase mobilization in support of the Palestinian people.

According to the SPVM, the demonstration ended around 10:30 p.m. The police intended to make arrests.

* Fictitious names. These people requested anonymity for fear of reprisals.