A day of demonstrations for May Day, International Workers' Day, led high-spirited marchers to haul flags and placards through wide swathes of downtown Friday evening in a series events that included many confrontations with police.

Police say the clashes led them to arrest 27 demonstrators on such criminal charges as mischief and obstructing a police officer. Another 57 were ticketed under the P-6 bylaw. 

After a relatively-quiet day of protesters, the demonstration gathered steam as several groups - many sporting masks in violation of bylaw P-6 - united to form one large mass downtown at about 7 p.m. At least four separate demonstrations united around McGill College and De Maisonneuve.

About 15 minutes later police declared the protest illegal under bylaw P-6, which bans masks and requires organizers provide an itinerary. Police used pepper spray and tear gas against the demonstrators, some of whom were from the CLAC Black Block group, known for its all black flags.

Some students and various small protest groups marched side-by-side with the CLAC demonstrators, many of whom sported masks in violation of the P-6 bylaw.

Police reported that one officer was transported to hospital to treat cuts to the face. Several police cars were vandalized as were other cars parked along the way, according to police.

One young boy who was near the downtown scene with his parents was hit by tear gas. The demonstration gradually dispersed at about nine p.m. 

Some protesters suggested that those remaining would join the crowd of hockey fans leaving the Bell Centre following the Canadiens' playoff game against Tampa Bay but the game went into overtime and would finish later than usual.

Protest started early

The protests began at dawn Friday and were mostly peaceful, with one arrest being recorded in the afternoon when a young woman was apprehended on charges of obstructing an officer.

The morning protests began with a group gathered at Emilie Gamelin Park who made their way to the nearby CHUM superhospital construction site. Once there they prevented construction workers from getting onto the job site for a short time but police eventually intervened and shepherded the workers onto the job.

The demonstrators blocked access to several buildings throughout the morning, including to Quebecor and the World Trade Center.

Protesters' demands included the reinstitution of a $600 million in taxes on banks.

They then made their way to Phillips Square, which is the rallying point for what is expected to be the largest of the day's demonstrations led by unionized workers.

Police made two arrests one night earlier when a group that claimed to represent the Industrial Workers of the World occupied the CBC building on René Levesque Blvd. They said that they seek to increase awareness of worker repression in the Philippines. Two people were arrested.

Opposed to austerity

The CSN is calling for day-long protests across Quebec to oppose the provincial government's budgetary restrictions and its desire to curtail salary increases for public sector workers.

It has provided a list of protest locations throughout the province.

That list includes a strike by teachers at seven CEGEPs, but that strike has been declared illegal by Quebec's Labour Board.

In Montreal more protests are expected to begin at 8 a.m. at several health care centres and at the headquarters for the CSDM and Urgences Santé.

At noon workers are expected to picket government services at Complexe Desjardins, Sacré Coeur hospital, and CSSS Jeanne Mance, as well as McGill's administration building.

Students and workers against austerity are expected to begin a late afternoon protest march at Guy and De Maisonneuve at 5 p.m.

CLAC, the anti-capitalist convergence of Montreal, is planning a large demo beginning in the downtown core at 7 p.m.

Alexa Conradi, president of the Quebec Federation of Women, said the Couillard government hasn't taken into account any of the proposals presented by social groups.

"Instead, what it's doing is causing cuts to education...in public services, in health care and in the regions." she said. "A lot of these services are absolutely essential to maintaining a degree of equality in our society."

Conradi added that various groups decided to protest throughout the province because of what she called the government's refusal to listen to them.

The Montreal demonstrations brought together a variety of groups that included unionists, students and social groups.

Early on Friday, an Old Montreal building that houses many financial and trade institutions was targeted, forcing police to secure the area.

Employees had to show their ID passes to get inside the huge building, which is also home to several provincial government departments.

The biggest march, featuring several thousand people, was noisy but orderly. It ended at the Montreal Stock Exchange after helmeted riot-equipped police had followed them along their route.

Joel Pedneault, a spokesman for the coalition that organized the march, said banks were targeted because of their record profits.

"So we can go and get some money there in order to keep the public services we have and make them even better," he said.

Pedneault said actions were organized in most cities in the province, including Quebec City, Sherbrooke and Chicoutimi.

"Our strategy is to affect the economy as much as we can, so in the morning we were blocking the entrance for people going to the National Bank tower.

"The idea is to have an impact in many places, instead of just one place."

Normally, on May Day, there is usually only one big demonstration.

Daniel Boyer, president of the Quebec Federation of Labour, said members wanted to organize protests in their own region rather than having to travel to Montreal to take part in the traditional huge demonstration.

"We said OK, but it had to be sufficiently big enough to have the same impact or even larger than the (usual) protest," he added.

-With a file from The Canadian Press