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McGill University announced on Friday evening it is seeking a court order to dismantle the ongoing pro-Palestinian encampment on its downtown campus over the camp’s “potential to create unsafe conditions, unpredictably.”
“I write today to let you know that McGill is seeking a court order that would require those participating to dismantle the encampment, and to refrain from camping on or occupying McGill’s downtown campus,” university president Deep Saini wrote in a statement. “The order would authorize the Montreal police (SPVM) to enforce it.”
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In its request for a court order, McGill says it is needed to “avoid serious and/or irreparable harm following the escalation of tensions, the deterioration of the conditions on campus grounds, and the confirmation by the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal…that it would not intervene in order to resolve the situation.”
The university’s decision to seek a court injunction is driven by safety concerns, Saini said.
“Neither McGill nor organizations such as the Montreal Fire Prevention Services have been able to go into the area to verify compliance with health and safety,” Saini wrote.
The encampment was set up on McGill’s downtown campus on April 27 to pressure the university to divest from its investments in Israel. An estimated 100 tents have been erected on the site. McGill has previously said it has asked the protesters to dismantle the camp, and has offered to hold a forum on the issues raised by the campers if the McGill students in the camp leave.
Saini said that if the court order is granted, negotiations would continue between the university and the protest camp.
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“I would like to emphasize that the order, if granted, would not stop our efforts to continue our discussions with members of the McGill community participating in the encampment. We are committed to doing so in good faith,” he said. “The University wishes to see a peaceful and timely resolution of the occupation of the lower field of downtown campus.
The protesters put out a statement Friday evening saying McGill’s decision to seek an injunction came despite their efforts to engage in peaceful negotiations.
“We condemn McGill University’s shameful actions that demonstrate they will mobilize police violence on its own students and community to prioritize profit and donor money,” the statement said.
McGill is asking the court to order the dismantlement of the encampment, to forbid any other unauthorized occupation or obstruction of its property as well as any protests which violate the university’s policies and operation procedures.
The university says it respects freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, but says the encampment is not like other protests that have taken place there.
“It is now a fortified and entrenched space with fences covered by tarps and banners, impeding anyone outside the Encampment, including representatives of the Plaintiffs, from seeing what activities are being conducted inside the Encampment,” the court order request says.
The university says the encampment, which started with about 15-20 tents, has grown to become a “small village.”
This story will be updated.
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