Quebec long weekend saw revolt over relaxation

The May long weekend may have marked the unofficial start of summer for much of Canada, but protesters in Montrealseemed more concerned with revolt than relaxation.

Dissidentstook to the streets of Montreal for the latest round of protests stemming from proposed tuition fee hikes and new Quebec legislation aimed at preventing disruptive protests.

Here is a recap of howthousands spent the May long weekend in the province that celebrates the Journe nationale des patriotes (National Patriots' Day) instead of Victoria Day.

Friday: 'Declaration of war'

Tensionsescalated right before the long weekend as Quebec's legislature voted in favour of an emergency law,Bill 78, whichisintended to quell the 14-week tuition hike crisis.

'This is actually a declaration of war against the student movement.' Martine Desjardins, president of university student group FEUQ

After debating the special legislation overnight Thursday, members of the national assembly voted 68-48 in favour ofstrict regulations governing demonstrations and heavy fines forinsubordinate students and their federations.

Critics blasted the bill, which quickly drew comparisons to the1970 War Measures Act, as an affront to civil rights, an overreaction or ill-considered improvisation.

Instead of cooling tensions, the moveset the stage for a weekend of increased defiance from a dedicated group of dissidents.

Thousands stormed the streets of Montreal and Quebec Citylate Friday night to protest the bill's passage.

"This is actually a declaration of war against the student movement and not only against the student movement, but it restricted the liberty of speech, the liberty of association," said Martine Desjardins, president of university student group FEUQ.

It was among several protest-related developments in Quebec on Friday as Montreal adopted a newmunicipal anti-mask bylaw.

Saturday: 'Why ... hide behind a mask'

A Montreal bylaw that bans the wearing of masks at public protests a measure Quebec City did not implementwent into effect Saturday, a day afterMontreal Mayor Grald Tremblaystated "when a cause is just, why is it necessary to hide behind a mask?"

The bylaw also forces demonstrators to provide police with an itinerary for protests and makes it illegal to hold a rally of more than 50 people without consulting police at least eight hours aheadof timeabout routes and timing.

Thousands of incensed protesters, many wearing masks or hoods,marched through downtown Montreal on Saturday night in a protest that police declared illegal about a half-hour after it began at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Montreal police ordered protesters to disperse around 11 p.m.and called in the provincial police riot squad as well as officers on horseback.

Protesters built fires from traffic cones and construction materials, and a few allegedly threw beer bottles at officers.

Meanwhile, police fired tear gas at demonstrators in at least three areas of the city, and faced swift criticism forpepper spraying bar patronsat a St-Denis Street patio after someone threw a chair at an officer.

Estimates varied widely on the number of people in the streets, ranging from 3,000 at the beginning of the first march to 20,000 at the demonstrations' climax, when packs of protesters split up to locations around the downtown.

The night ended with 69 arrests, police said.

Sunday: 'You shouldn't get us mad'

As they had for dozens of nights in a row, marchers gathered near the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQM) and then headed to the heart of downtown on Sunday.

Policedeclared the demonstration illegalunder the province's new student-crisis law as soon as it began ataround 9 p.m.

Policeallege some protesters threwobjects at officers on bicycles, wore masks, and otherwise ignored both thedecrees of the municipal bylaw and the orders of constables at the scene.

"You shouldn't get us mad," yelled the protesters in French as roughly 5,000 people gathered in the Latin Quarter just before midnight.

Provincial police and officers on horseback were called again,and invarious parts of Montreal's core, constables fired tear gas and muzzle blasts at the crowd.

In an attempt to dissuade vandalism, afaction describingitself as the "white bloc" stood guard in front of popular targets, likebanks, and encouraged a peaceful march.

The overnight protests that began Sunday culminated in the arrests of roughly 300 people. Ten police officers and an equal number of civilians suffered minor injuries.

One person, who is expected to survive, was rushed to hospital with a serious head injury.

Monday: 'I Defy Law 78'

Thousands of peopleflooded Montreal's streets Monday night, many marching toward Premier Jean Charest's home wearing "I Deft Law 78" stickers.

This time, police tolerated the mostly peaceful demonstration and refrained from declaring it illegal, partly in an effort to diffuse a repeat of Sunday's violence.

Although there weresome instances of vandalism, the protest was more subdued than it had been in recent days.

Police blocked off the road near Charest's home as well as the sites of previous confrontations such as St-Denis Street at De Maisonneuve Boulevard and the entrance ramp leading to the Jacques-Cartier Bridge.

AlthoughMonday's protest ended relatively peacefully, theend of the long weekendis only the beginning of the next phase of student protests.

For its part, Quebec student group CLASSEdeclared Monday that it is ready to defy the provincial protest law,regardless of legal consequences.

Amarch planned for Tuesday will mark milestones in the14 weeks of student action. Student organizers estimate that 150,000 college and university students are still on strike.