Pro-Palestinian Demonstrators Attempt to Pull Down Statue Near Montreal Protest Site

June 27, 2024 TruthUSA

Reports of pro-Palestinian protesters trying to bring down the Queen Victoria statue near an encampment in Victoria Square, Montreal, led to a police intervention.

Before the statue could be toppled, police arrived, causing the protesters to disperse, with officers monitoring the situation without making any arrests.

The group responsible for the encampment, Divest for Palestine Collective, established themselves in Victoria Square on June 22, near the provincial pension fund manager Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec.

These protesters want the pension fund to sever ties with Israeli institutions they believe are involved in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

During the unfolding events on June 22, protesters began barricading themselves with construction materials in the square around 1:20 p.m.

University Encampments

The Victoria Square demonstrations mirror those happening at university campuses across North America, including McGill University in Montreal.

Following their occupation of McGill in late April, protesters were met with tear gas by Montreal police on June 6 while demonstrating in the main administration building, resulting in 15 arrests.

Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights McGill used social media to highlight the occupation’s purpose of shedding light on the situation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Despite efforts to negotiate, McGill University announced the termination of talks on June 18, citing no potential for a fruitful outcome from discussions and planning disciplinary actions against encampment members.

President and vice-chancellor Deep Saini denounced the encampment as an “illegal occupation,” mentioning a forceful entry into the James administration building and harassment of students, staff, and faculty.

Mr. Saini also noted the hanging of a political figure’s effigy and the display of anti-Semitic signage and graffiti on campus by encampment protesters.

At the end of May, protesters at the Université du Québec à Montréal ended their encampment after the university agreed to disclose investments and refrain from funding companies profiting from weapon manufacturing.

Additional reporting by The Canadian Press.

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