Activists gathered on McGill University’s downtown campus on Sunday to plant a tree in “hopes for justice in Palestine, here in Tio’tià:ke (Montreal) and for all oppressed peoples around the world.”
Katsi’tsakwas Ellen Gabriel said the great white pine is a symbol of peace. The small tree was brought from Kanesatake and was being planted to promote peace among all people. The tree planting ceremony was held by the Traditional Longhouse Women on the university’s lower field, where a pro-Palestinian encampment stood for over two months last spring.
Though injunction requests were filed in Quebec court, they were rejected, and a private security firm hired by McGill dismantled the camp in July. Activists said McGill has been suppressing students’ free speech when it comes to dissent against Israel.
Though McGill told Gabriel and other activists that they were not allowed to plant the tree on campus, security didn’t stop the …