On Wednesday, April 2, 2025, anti-Israel activists at McGill University disrupted classes as part of a student union-backed strike aimed at pressing the institution to sever ties with companies linked to Israel. Masked and clad in keffiyehs, these activists raised banners in front of classrooms, effectively blocking access to over 16 auditorium classrooms, according to the group Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR).
The strike, which is set to last until Friday, April 4, 2025, is part of a broader movement demanding that McGill divest from corporations supporting military activities in Gaza and end institutional relationships with entities they deem complicit. SPHR encouraged students to skip their regular classes and join alternative lectures focused on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
However, the protest faced backlash from various quarters. Bnai Brith Canada expressed its concerns on social media, stating, "Protest is a protected right — intimidation is not. No student should have to choose between their safety and their education. Disrupting classes, harassing students and faculty, and hijacking campus spaces is not activism; it’s dangerous behavior that has no place on a Canadian campus." They added that McGill has a responsibility to ensure the well-being and academic success of every student.
In the lead-up to the strike, a petition circulated online asking students to report professors who continued to hold classes during the strike. This initiative was condemned by the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU), which emphasized that participation in the strike was not mandatory and that intimidation tactics were unacceptable. SSMU stated, "While we support and encourage participation, we strongly denounce any acts or communications that are meant to intimidate others, including those who choose not to participate."
The strike was backed by 72 percent of nearly 4,000 undergraduate voters, representing about 17 percent of the student body, according to SSMU president Dymetri Taylor. Despite this support, McGill University has refused to recognize the strike, insisting that classes should proceed as usual. Angela Campbell, McGill’s associate provost, condemned the petition encouraging students to report professors, calling it "totally unethical, unacceptable and damaging to our community."
On the first day of the strike, while most of the campus remained calm, a group of protesters effectively blocked access to several large lecture halls, leading some professors to cancel their classes in anticipation of the disruptions. In one instance, a female student was seen trying to enter a lecture hall but was obstructed by demonstrators. In a video shared on social media, she pleaded, "I want to go to class. Stop," but eventually had to force her way inside.
While some activities related to the strike, such as teach-ins at the student union, unfolded peacefully, the overall atmosphere was tense. Taylor noted that the disruptions did not align with the strike's mandate, asserting, "You can’t force people to participate. It’s not something that anyone commanded on them, especially not SSMU or the university. It’s something that’s free for anyone to decide as to whether they will participate."
SPHR has announced plans for continued protests, with a rally scheduled for Thursday, April 3, 2025, at 2 p.m. outside the student union building. They declared, "Resistance until divestment. Join us tomorrow for the second day of this historic strike. Long live Gaza, the graveyard of the occupation, and long live the Student Intifada." The situation has drawn mixed reactions from the university community and external organizations.
Off-campus, the Federation CJA and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) expressed their concerns about the escalation of tensions. In a joint statement, they remarked, "Today, a small group of pro-Hamas sympathizers proved us right as they harassed and intimidated the campus community, pressuring them to adopt or support their radical agenda. How is it possible that we have to yet again say ‘Enough is enough’?" They accused the protesters of fostering chaos and anarchy, further complicating an already sensitive issue.
McGill University has maintained a stance of neutrality regarding the ongoing conflict. Following an incident on February 5, 2025, where windows of five campus buildings were smashed by anti-Israel activists, President Deep Saini reiterated the university's opposition to Boycott, Divest, and Sanction policies. He emphasized the need for respectful discourse and the importance of preserving the integrity of the academic environment.
The university's administration faces a challenging balancing act as they navigate the demands of student activists while ensuring that all students feel safe and supported. As the strike unfolds, the broader implications for campus activism and the university's policies on political expression remain to be seen.