McGill University says the encampment on its downtown campus’ lower field has “tripled” since Saturday and officials say it is violating their policies.
Tents began going up at McGill – near the iconic Roddick Gates off Sherbrooke Street – Saturday afternoon, mirroring similar pro-Palestinian protest encampments on major U.S. campuses. Those began popping up following the arrest of more than 100 demonstrators at Columbia University in New York.
In a statement on Monday morning, media relations for McGill said the situation “has shifted significantly.” The university says many of the tents, “if not the majority, are not members of the McGill community.”
Officials of the university also claim they saw “video evidence” of some people using antisemitic language and intimidating behaviour.
They say they support the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly, “with the understanding that these must be exercised within the bounds of McGill’s policies as well as the law.” However, the university says their policies and laws are being violated.
“The university has been in communication with lawyers retained by McGill students in the encampment, to discuss conditions in place to ensure safety as well as a timeline to remove the tents.”
They go on to say that through their lawyers, “the students have refused to carry on these discussions and did not bring any proposals or suggestions to further the dialogue. They have instead indicated that they intended to remain on campus indefinitely.”
“We need more tents please,” the group Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) McGill wrote on its Instagram story Sunday morning. “This is the most important supply we are asking for.”
McGill says its senior leadership team is meeting to discuss next steps.