The president of the Hamilton Jewish Federation says he and others felt intimidated by a group of protesters blocking a roadway next to McMaster University on Friday, where a pro-Palestinian encampment demonstration continues.
It happened between 9 and 10 a.m. Friday morning. Protesters were blocking the road at Sterling Street and Forsythe Avenue.
It’s right beside an entrance to McMaster, and it’s not too far from where the encampment protest is.
One of the protesters from the encampment says they were aware of the pickets, and did come and support them, but they were not responsible for starting them.
READ MORE: Pro-Palestine protesters not happy with statement from McMaster
Jason Waxman says he got a call from a friend who lives in the area about protesters blocking the road.
So, he drove by to see for himself.
“They were yelling and chanting, they had a lot of signs, I think a lot of people felt very intimidated,” Waxman says
He says some of the phrases and words used on the signs are anti-semitic.
“Big signs nailed to two by fours that said #intifada, which means a violent uprising meant to kill Jews and citizens of the state of Israel,” Waxman says.
A representative from the encampment protest says the word is used to describe revolutions and uprisings, specifically Palestinian efforts to resist Israeli occupation.
The protesters say there was a rally held this morning, but say community members who started the picket lines are not associated with the encampment.
“They honestly just organized it themselves, we came down to support, but again we didn’t have the final say in the picket lines, so we didn’t know it was happening,” an organizer with the encampment says.
“In terms of someone being racially profiled, they are picket lines, they’re stopping every car that passes. There’s no discrimination for them.”
READ MORE: Students gather to support pro-Palestinian encampment at McMaster on Nakba Day
Waxman says he’s concerned about the protests on campus spilling out into the community.
“When I think it goes off of university property into the broader community, where there’s Jewish people trying to get to their homes and other people trying to get to their homes, it’s just scarier and I think the level of threat is that much higher,” Waxman says.
The encampment protesters say they are staying within their rights.
“Our responsibility as students is to make sure whatever we do is as safe as possible and in accordance with the law… as for the community we don’t have control over what they do.”
Waxman says he did not witness any physical altercations.
He says McMaster security was on scene, but there was no Hamilton police presence.
“Other people called 911 directly, all of them said they were sending police, there was never any police presence,” Waxman says.
“I think when people sense an imminent threat to their safety and police don’t come, I think that’s a problem and I think we need some answers.”
Hamilton police tell us they were aware of the protest, but said McMaster University security were dealing with it and were not called to assist.
CHCH News reached out to McMaster security, but have yet to hear back.