Pro-Palestinian demonstrators who have been camped for a week on the McGill University campus say they still want a negotiated solution and believe their ranks could swell over the weekend.
On Thursday, pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian demonstrations were held simultaneously under heavy police surveillance, but on Friday, calm reigned on the Sherbrooke Street campus.
Ali Salman, is a student at Concordia University and represents those who have been camping in front of the university for a week now.
He assures that he does not fear that the Montreal Police Service (SPVM) will come to dismantle the encampment, as requested by the Prime Minister on Thursday. François Legault considers that the encampment is “illegal” because it is set up on university grounds without authorization.
“I believe that the SPVM has been clear: it does not want to have a violent solution, rather a peaceful solution with negotiations,” said Mr. Salman.
He estimates that around a hundred people are installed in the encampment, but expects the ranks to swell at the end of the week. Journalists are prohibited from entering the area where the tents are set up.
PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
“On Thursday, there were a lot of people who stayed until 10 p.m. It was beautiful to see. I think that at the end of the week, the demonstrations [propalestiniennes] will mobilize people,” says Mr. Salman.
One camper, who describes himself as a McGill University law student but declined to identify himself, says he will stay as long as it takes. He has been on the scene for a week.
“Our administration is forgetting us, not listening to its students and investing our money in companies that are for genocide in Palestine and Gaza,” he said.
The demonstrators are demanding that the university cut all ties with Israel. Midweek, the McGill University administration asked protesters to leave campus.
“The encampment must be dismantled quickly, and this is not negotiable,” warned the president and vice-chancellor, Deep Saini, in an email to students.
With Léa Carrier, The Press