Montreal police used tear gas to disband demonstrators and arrested 15 people on June 6 after masked protesters occupied the main administration building at McGill University.
The arrests came after demonstrators barricaded themselves in the James Administration Building on the third floor of McGill University’s downtown campus in what the protesters described as a “global call to action.”
The occupation was a bid to “escalate for Rafah,” according to a social media post by Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights McGill, a student group participating in the encampment.
Rafah is the southern Gaza city where Israel is carrying out an offensive against terrorist entity Hamas.
Police were called after protesters “forced their way” into the James administration building in the late afternoon of June 6, the university said in an emailed statement.
“During the occupation, protesters blockaded several entry doors, using chains or furniture, and attempted to remove inner doors to access offices,” said a McGill University spokesperson.
The protesters “vandalized” both the exterior and interior of the building and locked themselves in a room where they “damaged furniture,” the university said.
“Some staff were forced to shelter in place while those occupying the building banged on the doors and yelled threats,” the spokesperson said. “Staff working in the building reported that they heard chants of ‘violence now’.”
Approximately 100 pro-Palestinian protesters also gathered in front of the administration building, a few hundred metres from the main encampment.
Metal fencing was set up in front of the building’s entrance, and protesters stood in front holding banners. One read “Genocide made by McGill.”
Approximately 20 officers confronted the protesters two hours later as the demonstrators chanted “shame, shame.”
The protesters “stayed put in front of the administrative building in support of their comrades (inside) but also in support of our demands,” said demonstrator Rama Al Malah. “Police met this with tear gas and also by knocking people down to the ground, so physical assaults as well.”
Police spokesperson Véronique Dubuc acknowledged that officers, who were dressed in riot gear, used tear gas and shields to disperse protesters who were outside, adding that protesters threw objects and rocks at the officers.
The protesters regrouped in front of the administration building again and, after roughly 45 minutes, police launched a second round of tear gas and pushed protesters back using their shields.
Officers then formed a line, blocking access to the building, as protesters gathered farther away, by the tents that have been on the lower field since late April.
‘None of This is Peaceful Protesting’
McGill University said while it supports the right to freedom of expression, it “strongly” condemns the use of “intimidating, aggressive, harassing or illegal tactics” used by the protesters.“This troubling event is the latest escalation in a series of incidents that have occurred since April 27, when the encampment first appeared on McGill’s lower field,” the university spokesperson said.
The university said there have been multiple incidents of inappropriate and intimidating behaviour including the hanging in a noose “an effigy of an Israeli politician” on the Roddick Gates of McGill’s downtown campus. The figure was wearing striped clothing resembling the uniform worn by the Jews who were imprisoned and killed in Second World War concentration camps.
The university also said masked pro-Palestinian protesters have targeted the personal residences of senior management on several occasions and have harassed students and their families who came to take pictures on campus after the convocation ceremony.
Graffiti has been repeatedly spray-painted on the exterior and interior walls of university buildings and a university team was targeted, the school added.
“A table was set up containing rotten food with plates labelled with each team member’s name and red handprints, suggesting blood,” the university spokesperson said. “None of this is peaceful protesting; it is designed to threaten, coerce and scare people. It is completely unacceptable.”
McGill said it reached out to re-open discussions with the protesters last week after encampment leaders walked away from an earlier negotiating session.
“In many other institutions, we’ve seen encampment leaders work with campus administration to find some common ground that represents positive change, despite disagreements,” the university spokesperson said. “Yet, McGill’s offer, which is comparable to that made by other universities who have reached resolutions, has been rejected by the encampment on our campus.”
