<p>Message from McGill President Deep Saini to the McGill community:<br /> <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/president/article/communications-messages-community/wednesday-may-1-update-downtown-campus">https://www.mcgill.ca/president/article/communications-messages-community/wednesday-may-1-update-downtown-campus</a></p> <p><i>La version française de ce message suivra.  </i></p>

<p><i>La version française de ce message suit.</i></p> <p> </p> <p>Yesterday afternoon, McGill proceeded through all steps necessary in the protocols we use for demonstration. We informed participants that this encampment was not authorized and gave them time to gather their belongings and leave the premises. However, most have chosen to remain. As we worked through the steps, we also engaged in dialogue with representatives of McGill students.</p>

<p>L<i>a version française de ce message suit.</i> </p> <p>Over the past 48 hours, the university leadership has made concerted efforts to engage in open dialogue and reach a mutual resolution with the McGill students involved in the encampment.</p> <p>The situation escalated yesterday afternoon with the arrival of external protesters and a significant increase in the number of tents on campus. In the late afternoon/early evening, the McGill students indicated through their lawyers their refusal to engage in discussion and that they intended to remain on campus indefinitely.</p>

<p> </p> <p><em>T</em><i>his message is sent on behalf of Fabrice Labeau, Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning)</i> <i> </i></p> <p><i>La version française de ce message suivra.</i> </p> <p>Good morning,</p> <p>The situation on the lower field of McGill University’s downtown campus has shifted significantly. The number of individuals who have set up tents on campus has tripled since Saturday. We have become aware that many of them, if not the majority, are not members of the McGill community.</p>

<p>T<i>his message is sent on behalf of Fabrice Labeau, Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning)</i> <i> </i></p> <p><i>La version française de ce message suivra.</i>  </p> <p>Dear members of the McGill community,  </p> <p>I am writing to provide an update on yesterday’s news that a group of individuals had set up tents on the lower field of McGill’s downtown campus. The protest is ongoing and as of this afternoon has been peaceful. </p>

<p>L<i>a version française de ce message suit.</i></p> <p> </p> <p>Dear members of the McGill community,</p> <p>This afternoon, April 27, 2024, a group of protesters set up approximately 20 tents on the lower field of McGill’s downtown campus. They were later joined by a larger group who had participated in a protest in downtown Montreal, many of whom have now left the campus.</p>

<p>Dear members of the McGill community,</p> <p>We have received reports of posts on social media encouraging protestors to set up encampments on university campuses across Canada, as some have done in the United States. </p> <p>We support the rights of our campus community to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly within the bounds of McGill’s policies and the law. We also have a duty to create a respectful environment that creates the optimal conditions for carrying out our academic mission and that protects the health and safety of our community. </p>

<p>T<i>he following message is being sent on behalf of McGill’s Human Resources Department.</i></p> <p><i>Message de la part du Service des ressources humaines de l’Université McGill</i><i>.</i></p> <p><i>La version française suit.</i></p> <p>Dear members of the McGill community,</p>