The Montreal City Police Service (SPVM) does not plan to dismantle the pro-Palestinian encampment at McGill, but says it is investigating a publication that promoted a “revolutionary program for young people” with images of armed fighters. machine guns.
“This publication which invites young people to participate in workshops at the camp is worrying, since an image of an assault rifle appears there,” declared Inspector David Shane, responsible for communications, at a press conference Monday after -noon. The publication promotes a program that “will include physical activity, Arabic lessons [et] revolutionary lessons. »
The SPVM is conducting an investigation and says it has discussed this matter with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. “We understand the fears that this publication may raise,” said Mr. Shane.
Jewish community organizations quickly denounced these comments. The image also caused a reaction from the rector of McGill University, Deep Saini, who described it as “extremely alarming” in a press release. “Images that evoke violence are not tools for peaceful expression and assembly,” he added.
On Monday, the Plante administration added its voice to the concert of criticism: “this poster was completely unacceptable, almost very shocking for us,” said Alain Vaillancourt, responsible for public security on the executive committee. Mr. Vaillancourt was questioned by opposition MP Sonny Moroz, who said he was “shocked and alarmed by the violence of this ad”.
No dismantling planned
However, the SPVM does not plan to dismantle the pro-Palestinian encampment at McGill. In mid-May, McGill University filed a new request for an injunction in Superior Court to force the dismantling of the encampment.
“The Superior Court will therefore have to decide the important question raised by two opposing fundamental rights, namely that relating to the enjoyment of property versus that relating to freedom of expression,” declared Mr. Shane.
However, the SPVM says it remains on the lookout for developments in the situation, in order to ensure respect, protection and safety of the population. Inspector David Shane maintains that the police force supervised nearly 250 demonstrations, “almost all of which took place in good order”.
250 hate events
The SPVM has noted an increase in hate crimes and incidents linked to the war between Israel and Hamas, with some 250 events since October 7. Of these, 146 are hate crimes and 104 hate incidents, such as insults. “We encourage citizens to report, because we are still going to carry out preventive interventions to avoid one day leading to a crime,” explains Mr. Shane.
For the moment, 31 files have been submitted to the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP). A suspect was also arrested in connection with the shootings at the Yeshiva Gedola Jewish school in the Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough on November 12.
With Philippe Teisceira-Lessard and Fannie Arcand