Anti-Capitalist demonstration in Montreal faces tear-gas; 10 arrests reported

May 2, 2016

Anti-Capitalist demonstration in Montreal faces tear-gas; 10 arrests reported

An anti-capitalist demonstration took place May 1st inMontreal. Promoted through posters and stickers posted across the city, well-over 2,000 people rallied at Phillips Square at 3:00 pm to march through downtown Montreal in solidarity with 'international workers day' and other 1st of May events around the world.

Protesters dressed in black jackets and carried make-shift black flags to the voice of one megaphone and the beat of one drummer.

Well-over 100 police officers were deployed to manage the demonstration, which filled Saint Catherine street. The demonstrations was followed from behind by 6 horse-mounted officers and paralleled on each side by dozens of bicycle-mounted officers.

The demonstration advanced down Saint-Catherine street until about 3:50 p.m., when riot police officers formed a line to block the demonstration's advance just outside the police station on Saint-Catherine street.

At this point, protesters began launching fire crackers, throwing powder paint and even throwing rocks at officers outside the police station. Police responded by launching several canisters of tear gas on the crowd as the formation of riot police charged the demonstration.

Dispersed demonstrators were then chased by police throughout downtown, with at least 10 arrests were reported.

At around 5:00 pm, remaining protesters re-grouped at Philips Square, the site of the 'social change' demonstration 'Nuit Debout' (Up All Night) Montreal , which has established tents, water and food for the crowd

A final demonstration of several hundred people then departed from Philips Square and headed down Saint-Catherine street towards Place-des-Arts, where police quickly formed a line that re-directed the demonstration northwards towards Maison-Neuve. Riot police then cornered the demonstration, and the crowd was charged by bicycle-mounted police, dispersing the remaining protesters.