Quebec Court Blocks McGill Student Union From Adopting Pro-Palestinian Policy

Pro-Palestinian students take part in a protest in support of the Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, at Columbia University in New York City, Oct. 12, 2023. Jeenah Moon/File Photo/Reuters

Quebec’s Superior Court has blocked the McGill University student union from adopting a pro-Palestinian policy until a legal challenge against it can be heard in the courts.

The policy is in response to Israel’s military action in Gaza after a surprise attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

The Policy Against Genocide in Palestine calls on the university administration to condemn the military action in Gaza, cut ties with any organization that supports the military action, and solidify the union’s support for Palestinians and Arabs.

It also demands “that our student union commit to a strong, consistent position in solidarity with Palestinian students, and with the Palestinian struggle against genocide and settler-colonial apartheid.”

The policy would remain in place for five years, according to the document.

In a student referendum, it received 78.7 percent support, while 21.3 percent voted against adopting the policy.

The Epoch Times reached out to the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) and the school administration but did not immediately hear back.

The court order says the group will not ratify the policy until the case is back before the courts in March.

A Jewish student, who was not named for safety reasons, filed the court action against the policy, calling it “hate literature” and saying it violated the school’s equity and anti-Semitism policies.

Court documents say the student has received threats for speaking out.

“As a Jewish student, the plaintiff is frightened for her personal safety and security at McGill University,” the court record says.

“The atmosphere on McGill campus has become tense and frightening for Jewish students at McGill University.”

The student is seeking to have the policy stopped for good, as well as $125,000 in damages.

The student group told The Canadian Press that it would agree to suspend the policy’s ratification, but will fight attempts to stop it.

“We have agreed that the ratification of the vote on the policy by the board of directors be suspended pending debate on the plaintiff’s demand for an interlocutory injunction to that effect, which will be vigorously contested by the SSMU,” a statement delivered via the group’s lawyer says.

Jewish human rights organization B’nai Brith Canada said it was pleased with the court decision.

“It is sad that a student had to go to the Courts for justice on this issue because the university has repeatedly failed to hold its student associations accountable for breaking their own rules,” chief executive officer Michael Mostyn said in a news release.

“Of course, we welcome the Court’s decision to stay the referendum until a final decision can be reached, but McGill does not have to wait until then to do the right thing.”

McGill Condems Pro-Palestinian Social Media Post

The university has condemned a social media post made by a pro-Palestinian group affiliated with the school.

Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights McGill posted on Facebook details of a protest just days after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.

“Join us as we reaffirm our support to the people of Gaza and Palestine who are actively engaged in the liberation of their lands,” the post said.

In response, Provost and Vice-Principal Christopher Manfredi published a statement that calls the social media post “distressing.”

“The university denounces these abhorrent posts, which celebrate recent acts of terror and violence that have resulted in widespread loss of human life,” he said.

Mr. Manfredi said the group was “wholly independent” of the university, but had been permitted to use the university’s name as part of a memorandum of agreement with the SSMU.

“Given the incendiary content of the SPHR’s recent posts, I have directed the Deputy Provost to inform the SSMU that SPHR’s use of the University’s name is non-compliant with the terms of the MOA,” he said, adding the school is revoking permission for the club to use McGill’s name.

‘Resistance’

The court decision comes after three student groups at York University were condemned by the school for a pro-Palestinian statement they jointly released.

The statement, released by The York Federation of Students, York University Graduate Students Association, and Glendon College Student Union groups, offered support for the Palestinian people and global diaspora “and their ongoing fight against settler-colonialism, apartheid, and genocide.”

The statement also called Hamas’s recent terrorist attack on Israel “resistance.”

“Recently, in a strong act of resistance, the Palestinian people tore down and crossed the illegitimate border fence erected by the settler-colonial apartheid state of so-called Israel,” the students wrote. “These resistance efforts are a direct response to the ongoing and violent occupation of Palestine.”

The school responded saying it condemned the “inflammatory” statement.

“Freedom of expression has limits and comes with responsibilities. It must never reach into promoting or justifying violence against unarmed civilians,” says the university’s Oct. 13 social media post on X, formerly Twitter.

The Canadian Press contributed to this story.