294 More Arrested by Montreal Police in Anniversary of Student Protest

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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The Montreal police took more than 294 people under arrest during a protest, which was aimed to highlight the anniversary of another massive rally that previously turned out to be a turning point in Quebec student crisis last year. The protest of last year resulted in tens of thousands of people coming to the streets in protest against the former Charest government’s planned tuition increase.

However, the police speedily obstructed the protest on Friday evening, making attempts to disperse the crowd, while also arresting several hundred people under municipal bylaw P-6, i.e. the bylaw “concerning the prevention of breaches of the peace, public order and safety and the use of public property.” Authorities have confirmed that complete majority of the arrested were fined $654 for walking against the designated flow of traffic. However, it alleged that none was kept in custody. The spokesperson for Montreal police, Sgt. Jean Bruno Latour, affirmed that several journalists were also involved in part of the two mass arrests that took place around 6:30 p.m., along with the mascot, Anarchopanda, that was also witnessed in one of the police kettling maneuvers.

Sgt. Latour defended the police’s maneuvers, by alleging that people’s rights are still being respected, but that “all protests have to remain peaceful and respectful of all citizens.” On the other hand, a women participant of the protest claimed that “they cut the protests after five minutes. We don’t even have the time to express ourselves. It’s ridiculous. They arrest people when there are no offences. I’m disgusted.”