Dissatisfied with a meeting with the management of McGill University on Monday, the pro-Palestinian campers have no intention of stopping the occupation which has lasted for a week and which could even continue to grow.
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“The camp will continue to grow and expand as long as we do not have concrete news of investments,” said one of the people who had invited the media.
Several spokespersons, some of whom wanted to remain anonymous, took turns at the microphone to take stock of the situation on Monday afternoon.
An “unofficial” meeting took place between representatives of the encampment and the McGill administration on Monday, we learned.
During this discussion, McGill University did not manage to “provide a concrete timetable”.
The campers are calling on the university to stop funding companies with ties to Israel, including supplying it with weapons.
“It’s absurd”
The university encampment movement was born in the United States and has spread to several Canadian universities in recent days. By hoping that all these universities would cut ties with Israel, the Montreal campers hope to move the chessboard in favor of the Gazan people.
“What message are they sending to us as scholars? They use our admission money to finance wars outside while they charge us thousands of dollars to be enrolled […] This is absurd,” said Ari Nahman.
Members of Independent Jewish Voices spoke, including Ari Nahman (right).
Photo Dominique Scali
The demonstrators therefore maintain that they will remain on site until clear commitments are obtained from McGill.
Not anti-Semitic
Furthermore, a student member of Independent Jewish Voices stressed that criticizing Israel was not synonymous with anti-Semitism, one of the criticisms raised by the McGill administration.
“We refuse to be exploited […] We are living proof that attempts to divide us will not succeed.”
Professor Daniel Schwartz, from the Department of Language, Literature and Culture, also spoke to support the campers.
Daniel Schwartz, professor at McGill University
Photo Dominique Scali
“There are no more universities left in Gaza. Education in Palestine is under attack and it is our duty to stop this,” the professor said.
He estimates that there are more than 100 professors who support this cause in Montreal.
At the time of publication, McGill University had not responded to our email.
– With TVA News
