Violence continues in Montreal during protests, at least 300 arrests made
Posted May 21, 2012 12:44 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
MONTREAL – Sunday was another chaotic night in downtown Montreal, with police saying they made at least 300 arrests while battling protesters for a second straight evening.
They say 10 people were hurt, including four police officers, but none of the injuries is believed to be life-threatening.
Windows were smashed, construction cones and signs tossed in the street, and a fire hydrant burst near the same intersection where protesters lit a big fire Saturday night.
Riot police used tear gas and sound grenades to try to break up the protest, which was deemed illegal moments after it began for not complying with Quebec’s new emergency legislation.
Bill 78 is designed to crack down on the largely student protests that have been rocking Quebec for nearly three months.
It requires organizers to give police eight hours’ advance notice of when and where the protest will happen.
Police, meantime, are under fire for pepper spraying bar patrons at an outdoor patio at close range Saturday night after someone tossed a chair at officers.
The bar owner says police went too far and that he’s now considering legal action.
