By Barry Ellsworth
TRENTON, Canada (AA) – Pro-Palestinian protesters barricaded themselves in the administration building at McGill University in Montreal on Thursday, media reported.
About an hour into the protest, Montreal police responded by firing tear gas at a crowd of protesters who were outside the building, CBC News reported.
Masked protesters appeared at open windows on the third floor and waved a Palestinian flag, but after the tear gas was discharged, police in riot gear could be seen in the windows.
The crowd outside grew larger and expanded to include the campus square. Police then used tear gas and pepper spray to clear out protesters.
The group leading the occupation -- Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) McGill – was demanding McGill cut ties with “genocide.”
Specifically, the group listed three companies the university should end relations with – Lockheed Martin, Elbit Systems and Thales. The latter equips land forces and navies with communication networks. Elbit Systems is a global high technology company, while Lockheed Martin develops, among other things, systems to prepare military personnel for complex missions.
The group posted on X that “students barricade entrance to the McGill Admin Building…Escalate 4 Rafah” in capital letters. SPHR McGill spokesperson Rama Al-Malah said anyone can leave the building and there has been no confrontation with security, CTV News reported.
The university made a brief statement to acknowledge that “protesters have set up a barricade outside the building. Police and security services are on site."
SPHR McGill had posted on X an appeal for support.
“Show up to support the students and escalate for Rafah," the post said.