A Quebec City protest organized by anti-fascist advocates was declared illegal.
Police told protesters to disperse or face arrest after some threw bottles and shot fireworks at police.
Demonstrators also reportedly threw chairs at police, lit fires in a garbage can, and attacked a media photographer-- damaging his equipment.
The protest was organized to counter a demonstration held by La Meute, an organization that opposes the entry into Canada of asylum-seekers from the United States.
Premier Philippe Couillard tweeted in condemnation of the protest, stating that respect must be the norm in a democracy.
Nous condamnons la violence et l'intimidation. Nous vivons dans une démocratie où le #respect doit être la norme et non pas l'exception.
— Philippe Couillard (@phcouillard) August 20, 2017
Public Security Minister also sounded off on the protest on Twitter once the protest was deemed illegal, and Quebec City police proceeded to arrest demonstrators, including social justice activist Jaggi Singh.
La population a le droit de s'exprimer et de manifester mais cela doit se faire dans le respect de nos lois. Tolérance 0 pour la violence
— Martin Coiteux (@CoiteuxMartin) August 20, 2017
Last week, the group suspended a member who was identified as a participant at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va. La Meute denies being a white supremacist or racist organization.
Anti-fascist protesters chanting everyone hates racists pic.twitter.com/Sm7KfQx1rs
— Rob Lurie (@RLurieCTV) August 20, 2017
Anti-fascist grilling fireworks at police. Police declare protest illegal pic.twitter.com/ZiYMgeM9je
— Rob Lurie (@RLurieCTV) August 20, 2017
Police telling anti-fascist protesters to disperse or they will be arrested
— Rob Lurie (@RLurieCTV) August 20, 2017
Anti-fascist protesters throwing bottles of police
— Rob Lurie (@RLurieCTV) August 20, 2017
Things getting very out of control. Anti-fascist protest with throwing chairs, bottles at Police
— Rob Lurie (@RLurieCTV) August 20, 2017
Anti-fascist protesters have lita garbage can on fire in the middle of tourist area.
— Rob Lurie (@RLurieCTV) August 20, 2017
Anti-fascist protesters attacked a media photographer
— Rob Lurie (@RLurieCTV) August 20, 2017