Montreal

Pro-Palestinian encampment members reject McGill's 'laughable' latest offer

Several groups involved in the encampment at McGill University's downtown campus issued a joint statement describing the latest offer as "laughable" and an "immaterial response" to their demands.

Offer is 'immaterial response' to protesters' demands, groups say

A person walks past the pro-Palestinian encampment on McGill University campus
The encampment at McGill University's downtown campus, seen here in a photo taken on May 13, 2024, has been up since late April. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press)

Members of a pro-Palestinian encampment who have been occupying part of McGill University's downtown Montreal campus since April say the school's latest offer falls far short of what's needed to get them to leave.

Several groups involved in the encampment issued a joint statement describing the latest offer as "laughable" and an "immaterial response" to their demands.

McGill issued a new offer on Monday that included a proposal to review its investments in weapons manufacturers and grant amnesty to protesting students.

The university said it also offered to disclose more investments to include holdings below $500,000 and to support Palestinian students displaced by the war in the Gaza Strip.

The encampment members say the administration continues to delay taking substantive action on divestment and that the university's latest offer contains no concrete plan to cut ties with Israeli institutions.

They say their demands are straightforward, beginning with the immediate reallocation of funds from investments in companies tied to Israel's military.