Concordia Sit-In: Students Protest Suppression and Demand Divestment

On January 29, nearly 1,000 Concordia University undergraduate students attended a Special General Meeting (SGM), in Concordia's Hall Building, where they voted majorly in favour of the Concordia Student Union (CSU) adopting two Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) motions. A total of 885 students supported the motions, while 58 opposed them, surpassing the required quorum of 450.

On February 20, a group of anonymous students staged a sit-in at Concordia’s Henry F. Hall Building mezzanine to protest the university’s decision to revoke the CSU’s booking privileges and its refusal to act on the SGM vote that had happened three weeks prior. The demonstration was part of a broader day of action mandated by the Coalition de résistance pour l'unité étudiante syndicale (CRUES) organization, which called for institutions to boycott, divest from, and sanction the Zionist entity. While CRUES was not involved in organizing the protest, the event aligned with its objectives. Around 50 students and people attended the sit-in.

The protest aimed to challenge what students described as Concordia’s suppression of activism on campus. Protesters occupied the mezzanine before marching through the Hall Building and exiting onto Mackay Street. The demonstration continued along De Maisonneuve Boulevard toward the Guy-Concordia metro station, with participants chanting and calling for institutional divestment and accountability.

The protest reflected ongoing tensions between student activists and Concordia University. Protesters accused the Concordia administration of disregarding student voices and failing to engage with their demands. As calls for divestment and institutional action continue, the university faces increasing pressure from students demanding that their resolutions be recognized and acted upon.