A Quebec judge has rejected an injunction to remove a pro-Palestinian encampment from McGill University's front lawn, citing the protesters' freedom of expression. Judge Marc St.-Pierre ruled that the university did not demonstrate an urgent need to remove the camp, which was set up on April 27 and demands that McGill disclose and divest any investments that support Israel's actions against Palestinians.
St.-Pierre noted that the protesters had provided affidavits stating that the encampment poses no danger, and that the university's concerns about potential violence were speculative. The judge also pointed out that there have been no serious or violent incidents since the camp was established.
The judge's decision was seen as a complex balancing act between the protesters' right to free expression and the university's property rights. St.-Pierre suggested that the issue of "peaceful occupation" as a form of freedom of expression is worth further debate and analysis.
The university had argued that it could not ensure campus safety due to the protesters' refusal to allow university personnel to inspect the camp. However, the judge did not find this concern sufficient to warrant an injunction. The case is expected to continue, with a possible deeper examination of the issue of peaceful occupation and its implications for freedom of expression.
News ID : 3265