Victoria Square encampment organizers call on Quebec pension fund manager to divest from firms linked to Israel.
The Divest for Palestine Collective said it had nothing to do with the red and black paint flung at the doors of the downtown offices of provincial pension fund manager early Wednesday morning, hours before their scheduled news conference and protest. But members said they could understand the frustration of those who committed the acts. Workers with pressure washers had removed most of the paint by noon.
The collective has organized the “People’s Encampment”, a “liberated zone” in Victoria Square that sprung up 12 days ago. Organizers say there are roughly 50 people staying at the encampment.
The collective is calling for the Caisse to divest $14.2 billion it says the pension fund has invested in 87 companies “complicit in Israeli occupation.” This includes WSP Global, a Montreal-based firm that helped to design Jerusalem’s light-rail system. To date, the group has not received any response from the Caisse, or the Quebec government, it said.
The protest drew about 70 demonstrators at noon, who chanted and waved Palestinian flags under the gaze of Montreal police who remained in the background.
Organizers revealed that one of their spokespeople, Benoit Allard of the collective, was arrested by Montreal police on July 1 and charged with theft and evading arrest, among other charges. Allard said the charges were unfounded but did not elaborate on the events.
More details to come.