A group of Jewish faculty and staff members across CEGEPs and universities in Montreal has been created to counter antisemitism on campuses across the city.
The Montreal Academic Network Against Antisemitism (MANAA), which comprises of over a hundred Jewish faculty and staff members, aims to combat misinformation and anti-Jewish hate through outreach and education.
The group met with McGill University president Deep Saini on June 19 to discuss their demands which include the university implementing antisemitism and anti-Jewish hate in its Equity, Diversity & Inclusion policies; developing mandatory trainings about antisemitism and anti-Jewish hate; using the full extent of its policies and the law to take action against antisemitism; and not adhering to divestment discussions against Israel and any Israeli organizations.
The group wants McGill to provide a memorandum of action which includes a timeline of when these demands will be implemented.
During the meeting, the group also stated that McGill has failed to ensure workplace safety thus failing to protect the rights of Jewish professors, staff and students.
The MANAA was officially launched with the support of Federation CJA, in partnership with the Bronfman Jewish Education Centre (BJEC) on May 30.
Since April 27, a pro-Palestinian encampment has been set up at McGill University’s downtown Montreal campus.
For months, protestors have been calling for McGill to divest funds from companies protesters say are supporting Israel’s actions against Palestinians.
Members of the encampment have said they will not be leaving until their demands are met.
On May 15, a Quebec Superior Court judge rejected McGill’s provisional injunction request to dismantle the encampment.
The university had asked a judge to order the protesters to stop camping on or occupying its grounds and to authorize Montreal police to assist the school in dismantling the encampment if called upon.
McGill said the encampment posed a “security, safety and public health risk” and has caused tensions to escalate on campus.
After failed attempts at negotiation, McGill announced on June 18 that they are ceasing negotiation discussions with members of the encampment.