Not only do McGill campers have no intention of packing up, they are now organizing a day camp to occupy their summer, an announcement that worries the president of the University.
The group Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) announced it wants to “transform its space into a place of revolutionary education” with its new summer camp on Friday. The announcement, posted on Instagram, was accompanied by an image of people wearing keffiyehs and holding automatic weapons in their arms.
The publication sparked a reaction from the rector of McGill University, Deep Saini, who described it as “extremely alarming” in a press release. “Images that evoke violence are not tools for peaceful expression and assembly,” he added.
McGill University has “contacted municipal, provincial and federal security authorities” to report the publication as a “national security issue,” the rector added by email, adding that the presence of security agents will increase around from the camp and everywhere on campus.
The day camp is a “peaceful and legitimate” initiative, however, affirmed Zeyad Abisaab, general coordinator of the SPHR group at Concordia University. “Instead of spending time talking about an image, the administration should stop being complicit in genocide. », added the young man.
Dead calm reigned on the McGill University campus Friday afternoon. Around the encampment, handfuls of demonstrators chatted quietly, under the gaze of the few security guards dotted around.
Sitting at a picnic table, Zeyad Abisaab detailed the summer camp program, emphasizing that “everyone can participate, not just young people.” On the menu: conferences, workshops on Palestinian history and artistic activities. Classes given by professors from McGill University and Concordia University are also planned, according to the coordinator.
“We are here in Quebec, where freedom of expression and education are considered rights,” said Zeyad Abisaab, according to whom the summer camp does not deserve to cause concern. “There has been an educational space and activities since the beginning of the camp,” said the young man.