Threatened by court action and storms, encampment at McGill continues

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The pro-Palestinian encampment on the grounds of McGill University’s downtown campus entered its fourth day under cold, rainy skies and the threat of a court order begin granted to evict the protesters from school property.

There were no reports of any incidents overnight at the camp, which was set up on Saturday afternoon and saw its numbers bolstered by protesters over the weekend. However, tensions between the university and protesters remain high Tuesday morning.

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In a statement issued on late Monday afternoon, the university repeated its accusation that some of the protesters had engaged in “appalling antisemitic rhetoric” and that McGill “cannot and will not tolerate this.”

McGill also said it had activated its protocols for demonstrations, protests and occupations, which “allow the University to maintain a safe and secure environment for all members of the McGill community and for visitors to our campuses,” adding that “should the situation evolve further beyond the University’s protocols, we will have a duty to request police support in order to protect the health and safety of all on site.”

At the same time, McGill president and vice-rector Deep Saini addressed a question to McGill students involved in the protest: “The encampment began peacefully but has escalated to a point where there are risks to security and hateful rhetoric has been flagrantly used. Do you want to be associated with an event that flies patently in the face of the University’s core values? If not, I ask you to please leave the site now. ”

  1. An aerial view of dozens of tents on a grassy area of the McGill University campus downtown

    McGill University students have erected a camp on the campus grounds in Montreal on Sunday April 28, 2024 in protest of the continued fighting in the Middle East.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  2. Tents on the downtown campus of McGill university as part of encampment in solidarity with Palestinians

    Students set up a protest encampment in solidarity with Palestinians at McGill University in Montreal on April 28, 2024.Photo by John Kenney /Montreal Gazette

  3. Dozens of tents are visible on a lawn downtown

    People take part in an encampment protest on the grounds of McGill campus Sunday, April 28, 2023 in Montreal to protest the war in Gaza. (John Kenney / MONTREAL GAZETTE)Photo by John Kenney /Montreal Gazette

  4. A sign with contact information asking for volunteers is visible on the side of a tent serving food in an encampment

    People take part in an encampment protest on the grounds of McGill campus Sunday, April 28, 2024 in Montreal to protest the war in Gaza. (John Kenney / MONTREAL GAZETTE)Photo by John Kenney /Montreal Gazette

  5. McGill's downtown campus is visible in the background behind people gathered at a makeshift encampment

    McGill University students have erected a camp on the campus grounds in Montreal on Sunday April 28, 2024 in protest of the continued fighting in the Middle East.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  6. Dozens of tents are visible on a lawn downtown

    McGill University students have erected a camp on the campus grounds in Montreal on Sunday April 28, 2024 in protest of the continued fighting in the Middle East.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  7. Dozens of tents are visible on a lawn downtown

    McGill University students have erected a camp on the campus grounds in Montreal on Sunday April 28, 2024 in protest of the continued fighting in the Middle East.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  8. A person ties up signs to a temporary fence next to an encampment

    McGill University students have erected a camp on the campus grounds in Montreal on Sunday April 28, 2024 in protest of the continued fighting in the Middle East.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  9. The words 'Ceasefire NOW' are written in chalk on a wall with an encampment visible in the background

    McGill University students have erected a camp on the campus grounds in Montreal on Sunday April 28, 2024 in protest of the continued fighting in the Middle East.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  10. A person wearing a mask holds on to a fence set up around an encampment downtown

    McGill University students have erected a camp on the campus grounds in Montreal on Sunday April 28, 2024 in protest of the continued fighting in the Middle East.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  11. The message 'Viva viva intifada free Palestine' is written in chalk on the outside wall of a downtown building

    McGill University students have erected a camp on the campus grounds in Montreal on Sunday April 28, 2024 in protest of the continued fighting in the Middle East.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  12. Dozens of tents are visible on a lawn downtown

    McGill University students have erected a camp on the campus grounds in Montreal on Sunday April 28, 2024 in protest of the continued fighting in the Middle East.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  13. An aerial view of dozens of tents on a grassy area downtown

    McGill University students have erected a camp on the campus grounds in Montreal on Sunday April 28, 2024 in protest of the continued fighting in the Middle East.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  14. An aerial view of dozens of tents on a grassy area of the McGill University campus downtown

    McGill University students have erected a camp on the campus grounds in Montreal on Sunday April 28, 2024 in protest of the continued fighting in the Middle East.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  15. People wearing masks and scarves manipulate a temporary fence in an encampment

    McGill University students have erected a camp on the campus grounds in Montreal on Sunday April 28, 2024 in protest of the continued fighting in the Middle East.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  16. A person wearing a mask and kaffiyeh stands behind a fence where a sign reading 'SPHR McGill for Indigenous solidarity' is tied

    McGill University students have erected a camp on the campus grounds in Montreal on Sunday April 28, 2024 in protest of the continued fighting in the Middle East.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  17. Dozens of tents are visible on a grassy area downtown

    McGill University students have erected a camp on the campus grounds in Montreal on Sunday April 28, 2024 in protest of the continued fighting in the Middle East.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  18. A banner reading 'UQAM pour la Palestine' is affixed to a fence with camping tents behind it

    McGill University students have erected a camp on the campus grounds in Montreal on Sunday April 28, 2024 in protest of the continued fighting in the Middle East.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  19. An aerial view of dozens of tents on a grassy area of the McGill University campus downtown

    McGill University students have erected a camp on the campus grounds in Montreal on Sunday April 28, 2024 in protest of the continued fighting in the Middle East.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  20. People dressed in winter clothing turn a picnic table on its end surrounded by tents

    McGill University students have erected a camp on the campus grounds in Montreal on Sunday April 28, 2024 in protest of the continued fighting in the Middle East.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  21. People gather around tents and banners on McGill's downtown campus

    McGill University students have erected a camp on the campus grounds in Montreal on Sunday April 28, 2024 in protest of the continued fighting in the Middle East.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  22. An aerial view of dozens of tents on a grassy area downtown

    McGill University students have erected a camp on the campus grounds in Montreal on Sunday April 28, 2024 in protest of the continued fighting in the Middle East.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  23. A sign outside a tent on McGill's campus reads 'No war but class war'

    A pro-Palestinian encampment remained on McGill’s campus on the morning of April 29, 2024.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  24. Rows of tents on the McGill campus

    A pro-Palestinian encampment remained on McGill’s campus on the morning of April 29, 2024.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  25. A sign that reads 'You are funding genocide' can be seen amid an encampment on McGill's downtown campus

    A pro-Palestinian encampment remained on McGill’s campus on the morning of April 29, 2024.Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette

  26. People use umbrellas to block the view while another person holds a spraypainted sign reading 'FREE GAZA NOW'

    People use umbrellas to block the view of a journalist as they take part in an encampment protest on the grounds of McGill campus Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Montreal to protest the war in Gaza.Photo by John Kenney /Montreal Gazette

  27. A sign reading 'CEASEFIRE!' is affixed to a temporary fence with tents behind it on a grassy area downtown

    A view of an encampment protest on the grounds of McGill campus Sunday, April 28, 2024 in Montreal to protest the war in Gaza.Photo by John Kenney /Montreal Gazette

  28. A sign that reads

    People take part in an encampment protest on the grounds of McGill campus Sunday, April 28, 2023 in Montreal to protest the war in Gaza.Photo by John Kenney /Montreal Gazette

  29. Tents on the downtown campus of McGill university as part of encampment in solidarity with Palestinians

    Students at a protest encampment in solidarity with Palestinians at McGill University in Montreal on April 28, 2024Photo by John Kenney /Montreal Gazette

  30. A person walks between tents set up at an encampment

    MONTREAL, QUE.: APRIL 29, 2024 — The grounds of the McGill encampment on Monday April 29, 2024.Photo by Pierre Obendrauf /Montreal Gazette

  31. A young woman affixes a sign reading 'McGill is funding genocide' to a fence

    A student puts up signs on the grounds of the McGill encampment on Monday April 29, 2024.Photo by Pierre Obendrauf /Montreal Gazette

  32. A young woman looks up holding her hand on her kaffiyeh next to a fence with signs on it at an encampment downtown

    Maria, who would not give her last name, is a McGill student on the grounds of the McGill encampment on Monday April 29, 2024.Photo by Pierre Obendrauf /Montreal Gazette

  33. A sign reading 'End the genocide in Gaza' stands on the lawn with an encampment in the background

    Signs at the McGill encampment on Monday April 29, 2024.Photo by Pierre Obendrauf /Montreal Gazette

  34. A woman makes signs using arts and crafts supplies at an encampment

    Zia, no last name, a Concordia arts student, makes signs on the grounds of the McGill encampment on Monday April 29, 2024.Photo by Pierre Obendrauf /Montreal Gazette

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