UQAM classes interrupted by masked student protesters

Masked student protesters disrupted several UQAM classes on Tuesday by entering classrooms, clapping and making noise and in some cases, erasing course material from the blackboards.

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Despite a court injunction preventing students from blocking access to the school, aposting on social media called for ablockade of all entrances to the school Tuesdaymorning.

Shortly after 9 a.m. a group of students gathered inside the university'sPavillon Judith-Jasmin.

Last week, UQAM cancelled classes after demonstratingstudents blocked entrances.

The university did not ask police to intervene at the time, but has since gone to court to obtain a temporary injunction barring students from blocking access inside theuniversity buildings. That injunction was issued last week.

A student at UQAM sent CBC/Radio-Canada a video of students interrupting her class around 10:45 a.m. Tuesday.

RAW: Student protesters interrupt class at UQAM

9 years ago

Duration 0:12

Protesters at UQAM interrupt a class by walking in, flickering the lights, clapping and in some cases, erasing the notes on the board.

She said the protesters yelled out slogans in support of the student strike, and then erased the notes the teacher had written on the blackboard.

The students are protesting significant scale backs in government spending, particularly in the education and health sectors.

In March, Quebec delivered its first balanced budget in six years, but the cost of balance was tight control onspending increases, in some cases to below the rate of inflation.

ASS, whichrepresents 82,000post-secondary students in Quebec and has been the main catalyst driving this year's student-strike movement, adopted a motion during itsweekend general assembly committingtoincreasing thepressure on the Couillardgovernment.

Back to class

Meanwhile,students in the faculty of UQAM's Language and Communications program will be returning to class.

This afternoon they voted to not renew their strike mandate.

The students have been boycotting classes since March 23.Tuesday's vote marks the first time a student association on strike has opted to put an end to the walkout.

Of the 993 students, 703 voted against renewing the strike mandate, while 225 voted in favour. There were 26 abstentions and nine rejected ballots.