McGill University Pro-Palestinian Encampment 2024 Protests

The McGill University pro-Palestinian encampment was a significant occupation protest that took place on the downtown campus of McGill University in Montreal from April 27 to July 10, 2024. As the first notable Canadian demonstration in the 2024 global movement of pro-Palestinian university campus protests, it called for the institution to sever ties with Israel amid the ongoing assault on Gaza.

Demands and Organization

The encampment was organized by a collective of pro-Palestinian student groups from both McGill and the nearby Concordia University, including chapters of Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) and Independent Jewish Voices. The primary demands of the protesters were for the universities to:

• Divest from Israel-related funds, specifically targeting weapons manufacturers.
• Cut all ties with Israeli universities.
• Publicly condemn Israel's assault on Gaza.

Initially consisting of roughly 20 tents near the Roddick Gates, the encampment grew to approximately 100 tents. It served as a hub for daily activities and was occupied by students and faculty from various Montreal institutions, including the Université du Québec à Montréal and Université de Montréal.

University and Government Response

McGill University administration, led by President Deep Saini, declared the encampment illegal. President Saini accused the protesters of antisemitism, while the protesters maintained that the encampment remained peaceful. The situation escalated as the Premier of Quebec, François Legault, joined the university in declaring the protest illegal and calling for police intervention.

Despite these tensions, the Superior Court of Quebec rejected two injunction requests to dismantle the protest, including one filed by the university itself. The encampment was eventually dismantled by McGill on July 10, 2024.

Background and Financial Context

The protests were rooted in a long history of student activism regarding the Gaza war. Since October 7, 2023, students at McGill and Concordia have been highly active. Prior to the encampment, a referendum held on November 20, 2023, saw 78% of participating students vote in favor of a policy calling for the university to cut ties with companies "complicit in genocide."

Investment Data

In April 2024, student groups published a data set identifying 50 Israel-related companies in McGill's endowment fund, totaling at least $73 million. This included over $5.5 million invested in military technology companies with IDF contracts, such as Lockheed Martin, Airbus, and BAE Systems. McGill's total endowment fund, valued at approximately $1.8 billion, is managed by external managers.