As the encampment at McGill’s downtown campus by pro-Palestinian protesters entered its 50th day, the university’s president announced he is withdrawing an offer of amnesty to students involved in the protest and reminded all levels of government and police that “the encampment and related harmful activities cannot be dealt with by any university on its own.” In an emailed message delivered to the McGill community on Tuesday morning, university president Deep Saini said “the circumstances that we are experiencing go well beyond McGill University. Rather, they represent an issue of grave and profound concern to civil society more broadly.
” Saini said that over the course of the last 50 days, “ we have seen a series of completely unacceptable incidents take place and have sought assistance from the police to address these matters. ..
. As it has become clear that no fruitful outcome will result from these talks, we are ceasing discussions.” Saini repeated his description of the encampment as “an unauthorized and illegal occupation of McGill property” that has “led to alarming behaviours,” including “ targeted harassment and intimidation of students, staff and faculty,” the “ forceful entry and illegal occupation of the James Administration building,” the “ hanging of a political figure’s effigy at the Roddick Gates” and “ incendiary and provocative rhetoric, signage and graffiti both at the encampment and throughout the campus that intimid.