McGill University is asking people not to use the central entrance to its downtown campus via the Roddick Gates on Sherbrooke Street due to two impending protests on Thursday.
“Police told McGill security that the SPVM received information about a protest heading to our downtown campus,” an internal note from the university states. “The police mobilized officers and have talked to individuals in the encampment and in the protest.”
This comes as Jewish groups say they plan to launch a counter-protest to the pro-Palestinian encampment at 12:30 p.m. near the Roddick Gates.
A poster shared on social media called on people to “demand that McGill University enforces its policies and to stand against Jew-hatred on campus. Never again is now.”
A counter-counter-protest is also set to take place at 11:30 a.m. at the Roddick Gates by groups supporting the pro-Palestinian encampment.
The pro-Palestinian encampment has been on McGill’s lower field since last weekend, demanding the university divest from funds they claim are connected to Israel.
They say they also want the school to cut academic ties with Israeli institutions and denounce Israel’s offensive in Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.
The Israeli offensive has led to more than 34,000 Palestinian deaths, according to the local health ministry.
The encampment in Montreal is one of a wave of similar protests across university campuses in the United States linked to the Israel-Hamas war.