The Montreal City Police Service (SPVM) does not plan to dismantle the pro-Palestinian encampment at McGill, but says it is investigating a publication that promoted a “revolutionary program for young people” with images of armed fighters machine guns.
“This post inviting youth to participate in workshops at the camp is concerning because it features an image of an assault rifle,” communications officer Inspector David Shane said at a news conference Monday afternoon. The post promotes a program that “will include physical activity, Arabic language classes [and] revolutionary lessons.”
The SPVM is conducting an investigation and says it has discussed this matter with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. “We understand the concerns that this publication may raise,” said Mr. Shane.
Jewish community organizations quickly denounced these comments. The image also caused 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.
On Monday, the Plante administration added its voice to the concert of criticism: “this poster was completely unacceptable, bordering on very shocking for us,” said Alain Vaillancourt, head of public security on the executive committee. Mr. Vaillancourt was questioned by opposition MP Sonny Moroz, who said he was “shocked and alarmed by the violence of this ad”.
However, the SPVM does not plan to dismantle the pro-Palestinian encampment at McGill. In mid-May, McGill University filed a new request for an injunction in Superior Court to force the dismantling of the encampment.
“The Superior Court will therefore have to decide the important question raised by two opposing fundamental rights, namely that relating to the enjoyment of property versus that relating to freedom of expression,” declared Mr. Shane.
However, the SPVM says it remains on the lookout for developments in the situation, in order to ensure respect, protection and safety of the population. Inspector David Shane maintains that the police force supervised nearly 250 demonstrations, “almost all of which took place in good order”.
The SPVM has noted an increase in hate crimes and incidents linked to the war between Israel and Hamas, with some 250 events since October 7. Of those, 146 were hate crimes and 104 were hate incidents, such as insults. “We encourage citizens to report, because we are still going to carry out preventive interventions to avoid one day leading to a crime,” explains Mr. Shane.
For the moment, 31 files have been submitted to the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP). A suspect was also arrested in connection with the shootings at the Yeshiva Gedola Jewish school in the Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough on November 12.
