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Standing before the vandalized front doors of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec Wednesday, members of the group organizing the pro-Palestinian encampment in downtown Victoria Square demanded the Caisse divest from Israeli firms.
The Divest for Palestine Collective said it had nothing to do with the red and black paint flung at the doors of the downtown offices of provincial pension fund manager early Wednesday morning, hours before their scheduled news conference and protest. But members said they could understand the frustration of those who committed the acts. Workers with pressure washers had removed most of the paint by noon.
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The collective has organized the “People’s Encampment”, a “liberated zone” in Victoria Square that sprung up 12 days ago. Organizers say there are roughly 50 people staying at the encampment.
The collective is calling for the Caisse to divest $14.2 billion it says the pension fund has invested in 87 companies “complicit in Israeli occupation.” This includes WSP Global, a Montreal-based firm that helped to design Jerusalem’s light-rail system. To date, the group has not received any response from the Caisse, or the Quebec government, it said.
The protest drew about 70 demonstrators at noon, who chanted and waved Palestinian flags under the gaze of Montreal police who remained in the background.
Organizers revealed that one of their spokespeople, Benoit Allard of the collective, was arrested by Montreal police on July 1 and charged with theft and evading arrest, among other charges. Allard said the charges were unfounded but did not elaborate on the events.
The Divest for Palestine Collective says it plans to stay until CDPQ president Charles Émond gives a response to their demands. Asked whether they would disband if a judge grants an injunction, as happened in Ontario, where the University of Toronto encampment was ordered disbanded by 6 p.m. Wednesday, the collective said it would have to take the matter under advisement if it comes to that.
More details to come.
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