McGill University in Montreal closed its downtown campus amidst a large police presence. The police were there to help clear a pro-Palestinian encampment that had been established for several weeks. McGill’s president, Deep Saini, labeled the encampment as a fortified center for intimidation and violence, mainly orchestrated by individuals external to the university community.
Pro-Palestinian protesters were seen carrying their belongings off campus in heavy rain. The encampment on the university’s lower field was dismantled by bulldozers and security forces. A protester, Félix Burt, mentioned that everyone had vacated the site, leaving behind a collection of tents and wooden pallets.
According to a Montreal police spokesperson, one individual was arrested for assaulting a security agent during the operation. Meanwhile, in Quebec City, Higher Education Minister Pascale Déry expressed that it was necessary to clear the encampment from the campus due to the escalating toxicity on university grounds. Déry hoped for a calmer environment by the time fall classes commence.
A McGill student, Zaina Karim, who was not present at the time of the dismantlement, stated that protests would continue until the university publicly severs ties with Israel. Activists have been calling for McGill to divest its investments related to Israel’s military and disassociate from Israeli institutions following the events in Gaza.
Across North American campuses, student-led protests have emerged demanding universities to divest endowments from companies supporting Israel or its actions in Gaza. These protests have taken various forms, including encampments, building occupations, and demonstrations.