Every February, like clockwork, literary institutions— mega-chain bookstores, Amazon, Oprah, and English departments—advertise the urgent necessity of reading a Black writer. Whether it’s Invisible Man, Omeros, or Things Fall Apart, these institutions commodify and repackage Black writers into a promise to the susceptible and well-intentioned reader. The hope? Upon turning[Read More…]
Tag: palestine
The Deadly “Start-Up Nation”
Three McGill course trips to Israel have something in common: Under the guise of promoting technological innovation, they tout the name “Start-Up Nation.” This moniker derives from the 2009 book Start-up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle, that examines how such a young state now boasts the highest number[Read More…]
Students demand McGill divest from companies supporting Israel’s siege on Gaza in national week of action
Over 100 students gathered outside the McGill Arts Building on Feb. 2 to stand in solidarity with Palestine and demand divestment from corporations complicit in Israel’s ongoing siege on Gaza. McGill students joined those from Concordia and walked toward Université du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM), waving Palestinian flags and chanting[Read More…]
Divestment from fossil fuels was the first step; divestment from genocide is the next
Following 12 years of mobilization from students and faculty, the Board of Governors (BoG) voted on Dec. 14 to divest from all direct holdings in Carbon Underground (CU) 200 fossil fuel companies. This is a significant step toward greater environmental justice and a well-deserved victory for Divest McGill, an organization[Read More…]
Dozens of students rally, call on McGill to divest from companies supporting the Israeli regime
On Dec. 14, dozens of students gathered in front of the Arts Building and demanded that the university end its investments in companies supporting or operating in the state of Israel, amounting to around 20 million dollars in total. The Divestment From Genocide rally—organized by Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights[Read More…]
Compassion, inclusivity, and respect is impossible without divestment from genocide
Content Warning: Mentions of antisemitism, Islamophobia, violence, rape and death On Nov. 9, I spoke on behalf of McGill’s pro-Palestine Jewish students at a rally organized by SPHR McGill in front of the Arts Building. Within hours, I received anonymous threats that included my full name, which I had never[Read More…]
Montreal students flock to Ottawa to demand Canadian government call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza
Content Warning: Mentions of death, violence, genocide, domestic abuse, and rape On Nov. 25, thousands of people from all across Canada marched in Ottawa to stand with Palestine and demand that the Canadian federal government call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The event was organized by the Palestinian Youth[Read More…]
Student journalism must serve as an example for mainstream media on responsible reporting
Student journalism has a long, rich history of on-the-ground reporting of university-related issues. McGill’s first newspaper, The McGill Gazette, began in 1874, and today’s vibrant publications maintain this legacy. In light of recent violence in Israel and Palestine, rising tensions on campuses have illuminated the division and bias that mainstream[Read More…]
Palestinian, Israeli, Arab and Jewish students need McGill’s institutional support now
Over the past four weeks, Jewish, Israeli, and Palestinian students, community members and allies have demonstrated on the McGill campus. On Oct. 7, Hamas launched an unprecedented attack killing over 1,400 Israelis and taking over 200 hostages. In a brutal response consisting of airstrikes, ground incursions, and a siege on[Read More…]
Protesters demand university action and ceasefire in Gaza amidst growing global movement for Palestine
Content Warning: Mentions of violence, death, antisemitism, and Islamophobia Students flooded out of class at 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 25 to join a growing crowd at the Y-intersection, many donning keffiyehs, waving Palestinian flags, and holding signs in support of the Palestinians in Gaza. The protest eventually moved to the[Read More…]
