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“Enough is enough” was the message of the silent demonstration on June 8th. More than 30 demonstrators met in front of the SPVM headquarters in Downtown Montreal to express their frustration with police violence and brutality. Among the participants were people who had been brutalized by the police – one still had his arm in a cast.

Initially, the group met on the sidewalk in front of the Montreal Maison Symphonique. Twenty or so minutes after 6 p.m. officers from across the street came by and announced that they would respect the “protestors’ right to demonstrate,” but they would not “tolerate any criminal activity or the obstruction of traffic.”

Afterwards,  the demonstrators voted to move across the street and sit directly in front of SPVM’s doors; where a dozen or so officers were blocking entrance. Silently and peacefully, the protestors sat down right in front of the officers – for almost four hours.

Check out our report below to hear more about and from the protest. In addition, you can see photos from the event, as well.

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La Coalition opposée à la tarification et à la privatisation des services publics has declared this week a week of action. More than 15 demonstrations will take place in the Greater Montréal area alone. As they say on their Facebook page, The Non Aux Hausses coalition invites everyone, everywhere to join in on the demonstrations against the austerity measures of the Liberal government.

Today is already the second day of actions. Yesterday at Place Émilie Gamelin, at least 500 people attended the gathering held by the teachers, protesting the Liberal government’s austerity measures. The main point was the state of the education system and how the Liberals are leaving it into shambles. There was also interventions from social groups on how the recent measures are directly affecting the welfare of the poorest in our society and especially women. The speakers also indicated that today’s action was but a shadow of things to come with actions to be taken on a weekly and even daily basis throughout the province.

The event closed off with a march accompanied by the SPVM intervention squad.

Click on the image below to see a gallery of photos from Sunday’s event. All photography by Gerry Lauzon.

Anti-Austerity Teacher ProtestAnti-Austerity Teacher Protest

Today’s Anti-Austerity Demonstration

Today at 11:30, a group of protesters occupied the offices of the Bankers Association of Canada in downtown Montreal. The protesters met at McGill College and Sherbrooke, and walked towards Place Montreal Trust. The protest lasted roughly an hour.

More manifs to come in the next three days

Check out this poster below for to see what else to expect this week. If this is what folk are planning for this week only, it looks like Spring 2015 promises to be anything but boring.

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On November 29, thousands of people gathered at Place du Canada to protest the austerity measures proposed by the Liberal government. The anti-austerity demonstrators marched on Avenue Rene-Levesque, from Rue Metcalfe all the way to Rue de la Montagne, from there they moved up to St. Catherine. The march ended at Place des Festivals.

The march was organized by Confédération des syndicats nationaux, following a grand advertising campaign under the motto: “Refusons l’austérité!” The PLQ government has built up on the budget cuts imposed on Quebec universities under the PQ government; however, the cuts have started to affect more than students. Social and health services will also be affected by the cuts, which is why students and social workers alike marched together.

One group of demonstrators broke off from the main group, calling for a mass strike in Spring 2015. The Comité Large Printemps 2015 has been attending and organizing multiple direct action demonstrations, and it seems that they will continue to do so until Spring 2015. Does it smell like maple to you, too?

Anti-AusterityAnti-Austerity

Click on the photo above to open the gallery. All photography by Cem Ertekin.