News
Police Pepper Spray Antisemitic Protesters at McGill University, 15 Arrested
Police in Montreal say 15 individuals were arrested Thursday after a protest was violently dispersed at McGill University. The arrests occurred after activists stormed the main administration building prompting officers in riot gear to deploy chemical irritants.
Since late April, pro-Palestinian demonstrators have been camping on McGill’s lower field, demanding that the university withdraw its investments in Israel’s military and cut ties with Israeli academic institutions.
Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights. McGill, a student group involved in the encampment, announced on social media that “an autonomous group of students” had occupied the James Administration Building.
Approximately 100 protestors had congregated in front of the building, a few hundred metres from the main camping site.
According to a student group official, the blockade at the administration building was in reaction to a global appeal to exacerbate the situation in Rafah, the southern Gaza city where Israel is fighting Hamas.
“Genocide made by McGill”
Rama Al Malah, who claims she was not involved in the occupation of the administration building, stated that the embargo was also due to McGill’s persistent role in the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
“We watched as our students (were) brutalized and arrested on the inside and students essentially refused to leave their ground,” Al Malah stated. “They remained in front of the administration building to support their comrades, as well as our requests.
“Police met this with tear gas and also by knocking people down to the ground, so physical assaults as well.”
Protesters stood in front of the building’s entrance, brandishing banners that read, “Genocide made by McGill.”
Two banners, one stating “You could have divested 41 days ago,” hung from a third-floor window. Officers were visible inside the building shortly after the protest began, and one of them removed a flag.
Police policemen wearing helmets and face masks stood on either side of the building, watching over the yelling demonstrators. Officers were reportedly blocking many additional exits to the downtown campus.
About two hours after the protest began, about 20 officers confronted McGill University demonstrators to the right of the administrative building, the majority of whom screamed “Shame, Shame.”
Police Disperse McGill University Antisemitic Protesters
Then, police began to battle with members of the throng and used chemical irritants to disperse them, sending others fleeing and protecting their faces and eyes.
However, this did not succeed, as demonstrators regrouped shortly after and returned to confront police, yelling, “Why are you in riot gear? “There is no violence here.”
Police in riot gear forcibly removed demonstrators from the administration building, pushing them back to the lower field encampment.
Following a roughly 45-minute standoff, police used batons and shields to physically remove demonstrators out from the McGill University building. Officers then formed a line to block entry to the building, while demonstrators gathered farther away near the tents that had been placed up on the lower field since late April.
A woman using a loudspeaker instructed the throng of around 200, “If you’re injured, go to camp; otherwise, move to the street.”
Even though it was raining, some demonstrators congregated on Sherbrooke Street.
According to an early Friday morning update from the SPVM, operations ended around 10:30 Thursday night, with 13 persons detained for breaking and entering and two more arrested for disrupting police activity.
Antisemitism at McGill University has been a long-standing source of concern. Recently, incidents of hate speech and prejudice against Jewish students have surfaced. Students reported feeling uncomfortable and targeted within their college community.
The university administration has come under fire for failing to handle these concerns properly or quickly. Jewish student organizations have advocated for increased protections and stronger reactions to antisemitic acts.
Many believe that instructors and students are unaware of or insensitive to Jewish culture and history. As a result, Jewish students at McGill feel increasingly isolated and marginalized. Despite some efforts to address these challenges, much more work has to be done to create a truly inclusive and safe atmosphere.
The situation highlights the importance of continued education and dialogue regarding antisemitism and discrimination.
Source: Yahoo News, Montreal Gazette
News
Trudeau Rocks to Taylor Swift While Montreal Burns
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come under fire yet again after a video surfaced on X, showing him dancing at a Taylor Swift performance while anti-Nato protestors ransacked downtown Montreal.
Trudeau attended Taylor Swift’s concert in Toronto on Friday night. Before Taylor Swift approached the stage, X shared a viral video of him dancing and singing along to the song “You Don’t Own Me.”
The image of Trudeau dancing amid violent protests in Montreal generated widespread indignation online. Some social media users even compared Trudeau to the ancient Roman dictator Nero, known for “fiddling while Rome burned.”
Don Stewart, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing part of Toronto, called out the prime minister in a post on X.
Lawless protestors run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest.
The Prime Minister dances.
This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.
Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved. pic.twitter.com/PVJvR6gtmf
— Don Stewart (@donstewartmp) November 23, 2024
“Lawless protesters run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest. The Prime Minister dances,” Stewart wrote. “This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.”
“Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved,” the MP added.
On Saturday, the day after Taylor Swift’s concert, Trudeau condemned the anti-NATO protests, calling them “appalling.”
Anti-NATO activists set off smoke bombs and marched through Montreal’s streets waving Palestinian flags. According to the Montreal Gazette, rioters set fire to automobiles and battled with police.
Pro-Palestinian protests
Protesters also tossed tiny explosives and metal objects at officers. At one point, the mob torched an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the gathering, and three persons were arrested for attacking officers and impeding police operations.
Masked protesters were seen burning flares and bashing storefront windows in videos and photographs shared on social media. Pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place across Canada since the Israel-Gaza conflict began late last year.
Critics have lambasted Trudeau for doing nothing to stop the violent pro-Palestinian marches, with some claiming he has fueled anti-Israel sentiment in Canada.
On Friday, Trudeau stated that Canada would respect the orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu, even if it meant arresting the Israeli prime leader on Canadian soil.
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News
Calgary Zoo Admits Human Error in Death of Baby Gorilla
The Calgary Zoo has admitted in a public statement that a zookeeper’s negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla. Eyare, a newborn gorilla, died last week after being slammed in the head by a hydraulic door.
The accident occurred when a zoo worker attempted to separate Eyare from the rest of the gorilla tribe for a solitary training session.
The gorilla died from significant head injuries, according to the zoo’s statement.
“This tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable,” Colleen Baird, director of animal care at the Calgary Zoo, said during a news conference. “Eyare’s brief but meaningful existence gave so much joy to our community, and all will sorely miss her. We will do everything possible to prevent repeat accidents.”
According to Baird, the staff member involved was immediately removed from the workplace and will be reassigned to another area of the zoo. The Calgary Zoo stated that it would take preventive steps, such as specialist personnel training and animal behavioral training, to avoid a similar incident.
Calgary Zoo Questioned
It is not the first time an animal at the zoo has died from negligence at the Calgary Zoo. A capybara was accidentally crushed by a hydraulic door similar to the one that killed Eyare in 2019.
An otter died in 2016 after being entangled in an “unauthorized” pair of jeans that a zookeeper had dropped in its enclosure. In 2013, a penguin died in “a freak accident” after swallowing a stick.
Animal Justice, a Canadian group that promotes animal welfare, has called for an independent investigation of animal safety and oversight at the Alberta facility.
“The Calgary Zoo appears to have a higher rate of animal deaths compared to other zoos, and in light of Eyare’s death there should be a systematic review of the zoo’s operations and practices, conducted transparently by the government or another outside party,” according to Camille Labchuk, the executive director of Animal Justice.
The Calgary Zoo refuted that it has more animal deaths than other zoos, emphasizing that it adheres to operating requirements and has maintained accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ independent Accreditation Commission since 1978.
“We love and care for more than 4,000 animals representing over 100 species that call our zoo home,” stated a Calgary Zoo representative.
“Human error-related deaths in animals are quite infrequent. We have lost two animals in the last ten years: a North American river otter in 2016 and ‘Eyare’ this week.
While rare, even one human-caused death is too many. These unfortunate instances have served as vital learning experiences, prompting us to examine and tighten protocols to provide the greatest level of care.”
Baird said at the news conference that using hydraulic doors is “common practice with accredited zoos,” adding that the facility will consider switching to alternate doors to improve safety.
The Calgary Zoo, which established the Wilder Institute in 2021, caters to nearly 4,000 creatures, including six more western lowland gorillas.
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News
Canada’s Lotto Max jackpot Climbs to $80M
Lotto Max in Canada has reached $80 million for only the second time in Canadian lottery history. Friday’s draw sought a winner for a $75 million pool, but the top reward remained unclaimed as of Saturday, increasing the jackpot.
Only once did the jackpot reach $80 million in September, when it broke the previous record. Before that, the prize was $75 million, a record.
The Lotto Max prize maximum was boosted earlier this year, enabling for jackpots of more than $70 million. The cap is now at $80 million.
While a greater fee may encourage more people to play, the odds of winning the lottery remain extremely low.
According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the odds for a $5 ticket are around one in 33,294,800.
While there was no jackpot winner in Friday’s draw, someone did match six of the seven winning numbers, plus a bonus, earning them a payout of more than $320,000.
Lotto Max History
Lotto Max is one of three national lottery games in Canada, overseen by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. The game was introduced on September 19, 2009, and its inaugural draw occurred on September 25, 2009. It replaced Lotto Super 7.
The odds of winning the Lotto Max are 1 in 33,294,800. This is correct to a point but misleading.
Let’s have a look at the rules:
- Players choose 7 numbers out of 50
- Numbers cannot be repeated
- Numbers are automatically sorted into ascending order
- Each play buys 3 lines
- Each play costs $5
Seeing that players choose 7 out of 50 non-repeating numbers, the equation for the total number of possible combinations (this is different from permutations where the order in which the numbers appear is significant) when playing the Lotto Max is 50! / (7! x 43!)
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