Montreal, April 9, 2025 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is urging McGill University to reverse its decision to terminate its Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU). CJPME believes that this far-reaching decision would not only undermine students’ freedom of speech and assembly, but would also send a chilling message that students can expect severe consequences for advocating for Palestinian human rights and liberation—antithetical to the values of academic freedom and democratic engagement.

“At a time when students across the country are mobilizing to stand against genocide and apartheid, it is deeply troubling to see institutions like McGill attempt to silence them through bureaucratic retaliation,” said Michael Bueckert, Acting President of CJPME. CJPME is particularly concerned that McGill’s actions are part of a broader crackdown on Palestine solidarity organizing across Canada.

CJPME notes that the SSMU plays a vital role in campus life, student advocacy, and support services. Dissolving the MOA is a form of student-union busting that would severely disrupt student governance and services, and would mark a dangerous precedent in which university administration punishes students for political positions it disagrees with. Further, since the SSMU did not organize the actions against genocide and McGill’s investments linked to Israel, it appears as though they are being scapegoated for the civil disobedience of a small number of demonstrators.

 “Pro-Palestine protests at McGill have been overwhelmingly peaceful and reflect growing student concern for human rights. It’s alarming to see the administration seize on isolated incidents as a pretext to undermine student governance and intimidate those challenging McGill’s ties to companies complicit in Israeli apartheid. Students shouldn’t be punished for standing on the right side of history,” said Bueckert.

CJPME urges McGill to uphold its responsibility to foster an open, inclusive, and democratic academic environment. CJPME calls on the university to immediately reinstate the MOA, respect student self-governance, and affirm its commitment to protecting students’ rights to advocate for justice and human rights, including in Palestine.