160 protests within just two months - and Canada's student uprising continues unabated. And, with new clashes on Thursday night, the standoff over tuition fee hikes is turning increasingly violent. Centering on the country's second largest city of Montreal, clashes resumed after talks collapsed between student leaders and authorities. Riot officers charged, maced and detained dozens of protesters, while the police chief publicly complained that his forces were worn out. The students are incensed over a tuition fees rise which the government says is necessary. But journalist Bernard Desgagne, says heavy-handed policing will only provoke the students further.
Fury as Quebec passes law to stifle student fee protests
Canadian province's government accused of 'murdering the right to demonstrate' in response to months of turmoil
Quebec's provincial government has passed an emergency law restricting demonstrations and shutting some universities as the government seeks to end three months of protests against tuition fee increases. Outraged students reacted by calling it an act of war.
Among the provisions of the law, which passed 68-48 on Friday, is a requirement that police be informed eight hours before a protest and told the route of any demonstration that includes 50 or more people.
Hours after the vote thousands of protesters marched in downtown Montreal to condemn the legislation, which students and supporters say limits their ability to demonstrate their disapproval of the fee hikes. "They pulled the plug instead of trying to develop something constructive through talks, " said participant Felix Siry, 22. "I think this will just make things worse."
Police officers in riot gear and others on horseback watched as the loud and energetic crowd made its way downtown, chanting: "No special law will break us!"
Molotov cocktails were thrown causing police to declare the demonstration illegal. Police used pepper spray and one man was arrested. Some people threw objects at a small group of helmeted police who were forced to retreat but charged back firing teargas.
The true measure of a man is not his intelligence or how high he rises in this freak establishment. The true measure of a man is this: how quickly he can respond to the needs of others and how much of himself he can give - Philip K. Dick.
The police everywhere are getting out of hand. It's as if they believe they are a force outside all rules or responsibilities, answerable only to themselves.
But this kind of thing has been going on "forever". We see it all the time in despot and militia ruled countries. The big wake up call for us is seeing it evident in our own "Western, First World Civilisations".
There is no such thing as Thin Air: Thin Air is full of the particles of creation.
Take something that costs you nothing but effort;
And practice, practice, practice until you make it something fabulous.
"...Wyrde saves oft the man undoomed
If he undaunted be....". (Beowulf)....
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Re: Police Brutality Fuels Fire of Student Anger in Canada
23 May 2012 01:20 #3
I don't know how up to speed you all are with what's happening in Canada but what started as a protest against student fees has now expanded to incorporate protests against the new laws quickly drafted re right to protest and assemble. Anyway, every evening at 8pm there is a protest with 'casseroles' as a standard now...last night there was also an impromptu one later on against law 78, the law restricting the right to protest/assemble, which a Canadian internet comrade let me listen in on on MSN. Anyway, here's some footage!
The chant is "on s'en calisse de ta loi spéciale" (we don't give a fuck about your emergency law).
It almost seems hard to believe, but the police were worse 40 years ago. Look at footage from the protests in the '60's and '70's, like the Chicago Democrtatic convention in 1968, the Watts riots, or Kent University where the National Guard opened fire on unarmed students in Ohio.....
What's happening in Montreal is a good thing to observe, especially for Canadians; I like the way things are going here now, our federal government seems to be a little nervous, as they're trying to get Canadians comfortable with the idea of US federal agents roaming our streets and apprehending "criminals". No one is buying it. NO ONE. Our banking system was exposed by a 12 yr old girl in a viral message campaign, as well as there still being some fallout and discussion about all the police shenanigans during G8 in Toronto.
"Though the rules of the road have been lodged, it's only people's games you've got to dodge.."
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