McGill students walk out in protest of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza

McGill University students in Montréal walked out of their classes to blockade the entrances to the Desautels Management building on February 22 in support of Palestinian human rights.

Activists demands were for McGill to divest from companies linked to Israel: Many companies McGill invests in have direct links to Israel's army. This includes Lockheed Martin, which supplies arms and military technologies to Israel. 

McGill has invested in upwards of $7 million to companies that have connections to the Israeli military.

According to activists, these investments uphold the Palestinian situation. And that their investments include Safran which supplies biometric technology to conduct surveillance in the West Bank. McGill also invests in BAE Systems which produces parts for F-35 fighter jets and Lockheed Martin, which provides the Israeli military with F-35 fighter jets, the Hellfire 9X Missile, and the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System.

The protestors spoke with the Dean of Students Robin Beech who said to them, "You can be as loud—you can be as provocative as you want. If the doors are completely blocked, then they will be calling the police soon."

The students proposed that they keep the underground entrance open.

The protest went undisturbed for the entire day.

Pro-Israel students held a counterprotest across McTavish Street, but the Palestinian activists were louder.

Speakers from Mohawk Mothers, Kwetiio and Kahentinetha, spoke on the importance of solidarity and welcomed everyone for coming, even the pro-Israel protesters across the street.

The Palestinian struggle is a native struggle, the Mohawk Mothers said. People are fighting against their oppressors, and the oppressors of Palestinians and Native people in Canada, and in other parts of the globe, are one and the same, they added.