Large-scale pro-Palestinian demonstrations flooded the downtown streets of Montreal on Tuesday afternoon to mark two years of conflict in Gaza. Numerous student associations representing over 46,000 students from CEGEP and universities in the city voted to strike in solidarity with Palestinians and the victims of Israeli military actions in Gaza over the past two years.
Protesters, many donning keffiyehs, gathered near the intersection of Mackay Street and de Maisonneuve Boulevard around 1 p.m., with a significant police presence in the vicinity. Concordia University closed its downtown campus earlier in the day to avoid potential disruptions from protests, allowing faculty to opt for remote teaching.
The decision to shut down the campus was made to ensure the safety of the community, as stated by Graham Carr, the university’s president. The demonstrations continued on Monday and culminated on Tuesday, marking the two-year anniversary of Hamas’s attack in southern Israel, which resulted in casualties and hostages.
The military response by Israel to the Hamas attack has led to a significant death toll, sparking international concern and accusations of genocide. Despite these claims, Israel has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. The protests in Montreal called for divestment from Israel and denounced the alleged genocide, with participants waving Palestinian flags and engaging in chants and symbolic acts like burning an Israeli flag.
Students participating in the protests emphasized the importance of denouncing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and urged institutions to divest from Israel. They demanded that school administrations take a public stance against Israel and support Palestinian rights, criticizing the focus on profits over student concerns.
Rabbi Josh Berkowitz from the Chabad Student Group at Concordia University highlighted the disruptions caused by the protests, expressing concerns about the impact on students preparing for exams. He noted the discomfort felt by students with Jewish identities on campus and raised issues of safety and enforcement of rules by the university administration.
The protests underscored the ongoing tensions and deep-rooted sentiments surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with demonstrators calling for accountability and solidarity with Palestinians in Montreal and beyond.
