McGill University – President Deep Saini: repression, lies, and complicity

Since becoming McGill’s president in 2023, Deep Saini has shown a deep moral failure in handling the university’s pro-Palestine student movement. From the first days of the encampment, Saini called for police intervention against peaceful student protesters — later praising the use of pepper spray, tear gas, and batons on campus.

While Jewish students and Independent Jewish Voices confirmed the encampment’s inclusive and nonviolent nature, Saini falsely labeled it “antisemitic” and spread unverified claims of threats and violence. Even McGill’s own Dean of Students later admitted that no one was prevented from leaving buildings and that no “hostage” situation ever occurred.

Despite Quebec courts ruling the encampment legal, Saini defied the law, using public money to hire private security to dismantle it — backed by Premier François Legault. Dozens of students have since faced disciplinary threats simply for being present.

Saini has been eager to please pro-Israel politicians like Anthony Housefather and Melissa Lantsman, openly rejecting BDS and calling chants such as “From the river to the sea” antisemitic. Meanwhile, McGill created dedicated offices and funding for Jewish students but nothing for Muslim or pro-Palestinian students.

Under Saini’s leadership, McGill has criminalized dissent and limited academic freedom, warning professors against any “political statements.” He even encouraged Jewish students to act as “ears on the ground” — setting communities against each other.

Deep Saini’s record is one of repression, hypocrisy, and complicity. By siding with power rather than justice, he has betrayed the values of a university community that overwhelmingly supports disinvestment from companies profiting from genocide in Gaza.

Students standing for Palestine are not the problem — they are the conscience of McGill.
#FreePalestine #McGillEncampment #JusticeForPalestine #AcademicFreedom #StopTheGenocide