There is a heavy police presence at McGill University ahead of two imminent protests on Thursday.
The school has also asked people not to use the central entrance to its downtown campus through the Roddick Gates on Sherbrooke Street.
“Police told McGill security that the SPVM received information about a protest heading to our downtown campus,” an internal university memo states. “Police mobilized officers and spoke to people at the camp and at the protest.”
This comes as Jewish groups said on Wednesday they planned to launch a counter-protest against the pro-Palestinian camp at 12:30 pm near Roddick Gates.
“McGill has given space to the voices of Israel’s detractors to be heard and it is time for Jewish students to raise their voices,” said Rabbi Reuben Poupko, one of the counterprotesters.
A sign shared on social media called on people to “demand that McGill University enforce its policies and stand against Jew-hatred on campus. It will never be again.”
“We are here for security reasons to make sure we can intervene if something happens,” said Montreal police spokesperson (SPVM) Jean-Pierre Brabant. “Obviously, we want these protests to happen really calmly and peacefully.”
A counter-counterprotest was also organized at 11:30 am at Roddick Gates by groups supporting the pro-Palestinian camp.
The camp has been on McGill’s lower campus since last weekend, demanding that the university divest from funds they claim are connected to Israel.
“We are a peaceful camp and we will remain so,” said Ali Salman, a representative of the camp. “When there is an act of provocation, which is clearly, the counter protests that were made were clearly an act of provocation or instigation… we have the community behind us that is willing to support us, to defend us. We will continue to be peaceful and remain in our message, which is to divest.”
The group says it also wants the school to cut academic ties with Israeli institutions and denounce Israel’s offensive in Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.
The Israeli offensive has caused more than 34,000 Palestinian deaths, according to the local Ministry of Health.
Brabant points out that the main objective of the police is to keep opposing sides separated to avoid injuries.
“We are in constant communication with the people at the camp and McGill University to reassure them why we are here, why there is an increased police presence,” Brabant said. “It’s just to ensure that nothing happens and that people can protest peacefully.”
He notes there have been no problems since the camp began on Saturday and the force has been evaluating its next steps since a court order on the camp was rejected on Wednesday.
The Montreal Fire Department (SIM) also inspected the camp and concluded that it was safe.
However, Brabant says the police are ready to intervene if the situation worsens.
“We are aware of what is happening in the United States, [and] “We are aware of what could happen,” Brabant said. “Right now we want everything to be done peacefully from the beginning and we are going to continue in that direction.”
The camp in Montreal is part of a wave of similar protests on university campuses in the United States linked to the war between Israel and Hamas.