McGill obtains injunction against SPHR
By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban
McGill University has announced that Quebec Superior Court granted its request for a provisional injunction against Students for Palestinian Honour and Resistance (SPHR).
The injunction had been sought just after a three-day student strike at McGill during which classes were interrupted, Jewish students intimidated and much vandalism committed. The university pointed out that the injunction was needed at this time as exams are underway.
McGill president Deep Saini pointed out that the ruling states “McGill has a clear right to an order that allows it to carry out its academic activities without obstruction” and that “McGill is entitled to the protection of its property.”
More specifically, the court ruled that SPHR and any person aware of the judgment, “must not block or obstruct the entrance to any building where McGill is operating; must not engage in protests within five metres of any building where McGill is operating; and must not obstruct the delivery or performance of academic activities such as courses or exams.”
The provisional judgment was put in force for a 10-day period.
“The university applied for the injunction following SPHR’s involvement in classroom obstructions and vandalism during a three-day student strike April 2-4, 2025,” Saini explained. “In his decision, the judge recognized the harm done to the McGill community by protest activities that resulted in vandalism, violence, and intimidation tactics.”
The ruling also stated that “violence, intimidation and the destruction of property cannot be tolerated in this country, least of all at our universities, whose very mission is to foster learning and the expression of opinion through peaceful, respectful dialogue.”
Saini reiterated, as he did in his previous message to the community on this issue, that he will “vigorously defend everyone’s right to free expression and peaceful assembly, while also protecting our campus from abuses of these freedoms, especially when they hurt our academic mission or cause injury to others.
“Many of you are working steadfastly to maintain stability in our community despite differing viewpoints on a range of very challenging and sensitive topics. Thank you so much for this work, which supports the teaching, learning and research that we so cherish.” n
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