Shutting Down Terrorism's Cheerleaders in Canada

"Due to the presence of human waste, a rat infestation, discarded syringes, a large amount of rotting food and garbage, and other potentially dangerous and unsanitary conditions within the site, it was necessary to use heavy machinery to remove parts of the camp for the safety of all involved."

"For the same reasons, it will be necessary to excavate and replace a layer of contaminated soil on the site."

McGill University statement 

"[The encampment was] a heavily fortified focal point for intimidation and violence, organized largely by individuals who are not part of our university community."

McGill University President Deep Saini

"[The encampment site is in a] deplorable state [and the school will be restoring the area]."

"We condemn the acts of vandalism committed by the demonstrators before leaving the site, which add to the already considerable damage around Tabaret since the encampment was set up and continue to generate  huge costs for the University."

"The Ottawa Police Service is on-site to assess the situation, including the damage."

University of Ottawa President Jacques Fremont

The site of the former pro-Palestinian encampment at McGill was bare on Thursday July 11, 2024. Photo by John Mahoney /Montreal Gazette

After over ten weeks of encampments at McGill University in Montreal and University of Ottawa, dismantling proceeded and it appears that the wave of university pro-Hamas, anti-Israel protests have concluded, until such time as the organized groups of Palestinian supporters hatch some new schemes to roil the social landscape in Canada as they have also done throughout the United States. 

 

Dozens of police in riot gear patrolled McGill University's downtown campus while security forces and excavators took to the encampment dismantling at the school's lower field. Protesters were escorted from the encampment, in their black-and-white checkered keffiyeh scarves. At University of Ottawa, protesters took down their tents at night and by the following morning only a few empty tents, tarps, blankets, wires and debris remained.

 

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators have ended their encampment at the University of Ottawa where they called on the school to divest from companies they say have ties to Israel and the conflict in Gaza. (Gabriel Le Marquand Perreault/Radio-Canada)

At the stairway to Tabaret Hall, protest signs were left, reading: "The children of Gaza will haunt you". A week earlier protesters were cleared out of a two-month-old encampment at University of Toronto. A judge had finally granted the university's request for an injunction to permit police to step in to remove and arrest those who defied the order to leave.

"There were acts of intimidation, harassment, damage to property, occupations of university buildings, clashes with the police and an assault on one of our security guards."

"On top of that, recently we learned that the people in the camp were not McGill people anymore, but mainly exterior activist groups."

"And the people who were sleeping in the camp were actually mainly unhoused people."

Fabrice Labeau, vice-president of administration and finance for McGill University

At McGill, private security firm Sirco had been hired to dismantle the encampment, after consultation with their lawyers, given escalating dangers associated with the camp. Protesters were given warning that if they failed to leave voluntarily they would be forcefully removed from the campus. According to a Montreal police spokesman, one person was arrested for assaulting a security agent.

Streets leading to the encampment at the lower field were cordoned off by police in riot gear, blocking access. Waving Palestinian flags, a crowd of demonstrators gathered by the police line. Others lined up before construction equipment brought in to remove tents and debris. There was even a construction crane and bulldozer on site.

 

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators began removing tents, posters and flags from Tabaret Lawn on Tuesday, but some vow to return. (Gabriel Le Marquand Perreault/Radio-Canada)

 

Demands by campus protesters that universities stop investing in anything connected to the Israeli military, and to cut academic ties with Israeli institutions were not met by the universities. "This is not the end at all. Students are more motivated than ever to keep fighting", McGill student and encampment spokesperson Zaina Karim warned.

Raihaana Adira and a few other pro-Israeli students attempted to secure a court injunction against the protesters mere days after the occupation of the university camps began, only to have their request rejected in Quebec Superior Court.

"I think this is a great first step. However, I fear there's still going to be a lot of violence and antisemitism on campus. And I think that just because they take away the encampment does not mean that they're taking the embedded hate against Jewish students at McGill away."

"[McGill needs to keep having meetings with students] to repair the damage done on both sides."

Raihaana Adira, McGill student

The Roddick Gates at McGill University's downtown Montreal campus remained closed Thursday July 11, 2024, one day after the pro-Palestinian encampment on the campus was dismantled. Photo by John Mahoney /Montreal Gazette