More than 2,000 police officers protest as Montreal celebrates its 375th anniversary

Wednesday evening's 375th anniversary festivities weren't so celebratory for some Montrealers, as protesters including police officershit the streets to try to sour the party mood.

They played loud music and honked horns,before marching off to City Hall in Old Montreal.

Officers have been without a contract since Dec. 31, 2014.

The police officers' union paid for giant billboard ads of Montreal Mayor Denis Coderrewearinga party hat, with the sarcastic phrase, "A mayor who shows contempt for his police officers for three years must be celebrated."

In a statement issued Wednesday, the Montreal Police Brotherhood said,"the police officers of Montreal wanted to illustrate, via shock advertising, that for three years, they feel scorned by the mayor and his administration."

No special treatment, police say

Montreal police said they would treat Wednesday night'spolice protest like any other demonstration.

In2014, the Montreal police department was criticized for failing to properly interveneduring a protest by municipal workers at city hall.

Hundreds of municipal workersstormed the buildingand trashed council chambers.No one was arrested.

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But Chief Inspector Alain Gagnon said the protesting officers would receive "no special treatment."

Gagnon said thepolice brotherhood informed the SPVM of itsmarch itinerary anddismissed concerns that protesting police officers would be indistinguishable from on-duty officers.

While both groups wore camouflage pants and red caps, the protesters wore red vests, while the on-duty officers will wear bullet-proof vests marked "Police," as well as yellow arm bands.

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Not everyone wants to party

In addition to protesting police officers, anumber of other demonstrations were also planned to coincide with Montreal's375thbirthday celebrations.

Affordable housing activists took tothe streets Wednesday morning.

Another protest targeted the city bylaws dealing with horse-drawncalches,pit bull-type dogs and other animal control issues.

Firefighters, who had also been without a contract since 2014, reached a tentativeagreement Wednesday, so they won't be protesting.

The union representing 2,400 firefighters confirmed the deal.