Protesters at the Pro-Palestinian camp defend the use of an image of armed fighters to promote a “revolutionary summer program” for young people. “This is a symbolic and historical photo,” they argued on Tuesday.
“I think the real question is: Why aren’t people focusing on the fact that our administration is investing in real guns, real weapons that are currently being used to carry out massacres in Gaza? », Reacted a spokesperson for the pro-Palestinian camp, Rama Al Malah, to the media on Tuesday afternoon.
In recent days, politicians at all levels of government have condemned an image shared by a student collective associated with the encampment showing armed fighters.
The post was intended to promote a “revolutionary summer program” available to the public, which began Monday. The same day, the Montreal Police Department announced that it had opened an investigation into the poster.
“This publication inviting young people to participate in workshops at the camp is concerning, since an image of an assault rifle appears,” said Inspector David Shane.
The image also caused a reaction from the rector of McGill University, Deep Saini, who described it as “extremely alarming”. “Images that evoke violence are not tools for peaceful expression and assembly,” he responded.
He addressed the McGill community again on Tuesday. “Despite our attempts to speak with the people who represent the encampment, we are seeing increasingly reprehensible actions,” he said in a press release.
The university pledged last week to review its investments in weapons manufacturing companies and support academics affected by the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
A proposal rejected by pro-Palestinian protesters who have been stationed on its land for nearly eight weeks. Faced with the impasse, the management decided to suspend the talks.
“Although our proposal was rejected, these measures will be put in place, because we believe that they will have positive impacts,” argued Deep Saini.
The university, however, returned to its offer not to impose “any disciplinary sanctions” on the demonstrators, who will be “imposed all the sanctions prescribed by our policies. »
“No university is equipped to manage, on its own, the dismantling of an encampment and the dangerous situations caused by such an occupation,” he continued.
“This is why we are and will remain in constant communication with public authorities at all levels of government, and, more particularly with the police, insisting on their vigilance and their support and calling on them to lend us a helping hand. strong. »
