The war in Gaza led to a brawl at Concordia University on Wednesday.
Posted at 10:12 p.m.
According to the Advisory Center for Jewish and Israeli Relations (CIJA), demonstrators confronted a group of Jewish students who had placed posters depicting Israelis taken hostage by Hamas on a table on October 7. According to CIJA, protesters allegedly used an offensive term to refer to Jews. Everything took place in a pavilion on the corner of De Maisonneuve and Mackay.
Sarah Shamy, a representative of the Palestinian youth movement who met CBC at the scene, confirmed that it was more likely a fundraising table for Palestine that was attacked by pro-Israel demonstrators, and that other pro-Palestinian demonstrators subsequently got involved.
At 1:30 p.m., the SPVM was called to assist security officers, two of whom were injured, as well as a 23-year-old student. A 22-year-old woman was arrested and released after promising to appear in city court. According to SPVM spokeswoman Caroline Chèvrefils, the police operation lasted a little less than three hours.
“What we saw today at Concordia University is a blatant manifestation of anti-Semitism,” said Eta Yudin, CIJA vice-president for Quebec, on X. If security forces and police had not intervened to protect the Jewish students, the day would have been can have a completely different ending. We thank law enforcement for their intervention, but it is time for university leaders to take concrete action and use every means possible to ensure that our universities remain safe for Jewish students. This must never happen again. »
For her part, the Minister of Higher Education, Pascale Déry, wrote on is restored. »