More than a hundred people gathered outside Prime Minister François Legault’s office in Montreal on Friday afternoon to denounce Israel’s siege of the Gaza Strip and demand an end to Israeli attacks in the enclave.
Published at 4:50 p.m.
Present at the event were McGill University’s Solidarity for Palestine Human Rights (SPHR) group and Independent Jewish Voices – Montreal, whose representatives staged a sit-in and blocked access to the Prime Minister’s Office. “We are here to demand an end to the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza,” Scott Weinstein said bluntly.
Many signs bore messages such as “Palestinian security = Jewish security,” “Legault, you have blood on your hands,” and “Lift the siege of Gaza.” On several occasions, the crowd chanted slogans calling for the liberation of Palestine or denouncing the “complicity” of Prime Ministers Justin Trudeau and François Legault, of President Joe Biden or even of McGill University itself.
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
SPHR criticizes the establishment’s administration for wanting to remove the word “McGill” from the club’s name. “By her actions, she is complicit in Israel’s crimes,” said one protester, who preferred to withhold her name for fear of reprisals. In its call for demonstrations posted on its Facebook page the previous day, SPHR also criticized McGill University for supporting the “Zionist State of Israel” instead of offering support to its Palestinian students and their allies.
“This undemocratic suppression of Palestinian voices is unacceptable,” we read.
Many drivers traveling on Sherbrooke West Street honked their horns at the protesters. The demonstration took place under police surveillance, but La Presse reported no incident.
More details to follow.