McGill in court seeking injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment on campus
CTV
Lawyers for Montreal's McGill University are in court this morning seeking an injunction to dismantle the pro-Palestinian encampment that has been on its downtown campus since last month.
Lawyers for Montreal's McGill University are in court seeking an injunction to dismantle the pro-Palestinian encampment that has been on its downtown campus since last month.
In a judicial application dated Friday, McGill says the encampment is a "security, safety and public health risk" that has escalated tensions on campus.
McGill cites the "fierce verbal exchanges" between protesters and counter-protesters earlier this month, barrels of possible "human waste" on site, possible fire code breaches and the encampment's potential as a "magnet" for further clashes.
The university on Monday asked a judge to order the protesters to stop camping on or occupying its grounds and to authorize Montreal police to assist the school in dismantling the encampment.
Julius Grey, a lawyer representing some of the encampment members, said it will be up to McGill's lawyers to prove the university's claims that the encampment is dangerous. "Demonstrations are a way of informing the public and we have affidavits that show that this demonstration is completely peaceful," he told reporters outside the courtroom, adding that the encampment is not permanent.
Grey, who represents a group called Palestinians and Jews United, said an injunction is an "exceptional" remedy. "I will listen to the proof that they bring to show the allegations of danger," he said.
The first hours of the hearing were largely taken up with procedural matters, which included establishing who will be allowed to represent the defendants, who were listed in McGill's court filing as "John Doe and Jane Doe."
