The minister for higher education in Quebec is calling for calm after a clash between students at Montreal’s Concordia University over the Israel–Hamas war left three injured and one woman facing a police citation. Pascale Déry posted on Twitter that she had spoken with the university to ensure “order is restored on campus.” The higher education minister expressed concern over the safety of students and appealed for calm.
According to a statement released by Concordia, university president Graham Carr expressed deep sadness and disgust over the actions of a few individuals that led to the recent incidents. Three specific incidents occurred on Nov. 8, including a social media post by a student group that could be seen as inciting violence.
The violent altercation between students and outside individuals occurred on the mezzanine, resulting in three injuries. A 22-year-old woman was arrested in connection with the altercation but was released with a citation. Additionally, swastikas were discovered in a campus building.
The university president said that Concordia unreservedly condemns the deplorable acts and will make every effort to identify and bring those responsible to account for their behavior. The Centre for Jewish and Israel Affairs (CJIA) posted a video of the student altercation on social media, condemning the targeting of Jewish students on campus.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said that police would investigate each of the incidents thoroughly to maintain the security of the city. Montreal MP Marc Miller also condemned the student clash on social media and emphasized that the behavior witnessed at the university is unacceptable. Additionally, two Jewish schools were hit by gunshots, pointing to a rise in antisemitic violence.