MONTREAL—Two rain-soaked demonstrators were arrested on Tuesday night as students took to the streets of Montreal to protest the government’s decision to increase tuition.
While organizers expected a thousand to turn out for the second weekly protest in Montreal since the Parti Quebecois’ education summit, only a few hundred braved the heavy rain. At many points during the evening, the flag waving protesters seemed to be outnumbered by heavily-armoured riot police.
“This is about pressure on the government. We saw with the Summit on Higher Education that it is pointless to go to these meetings where the voices of students aren’t heard,” said Jeremie Bedard-Wien, a member of the ASSE’s executive.
“Students have chosen the streets.”
With rain dripping from his glasses, Bedard-Wien promised more protests in the future.
ASSE, one of Quebec’s largest student groups, is promising to host a demonstration with tens of thousands of students on March 22, the one-year anniversary of the first large protest of the 2012 student unrest.
“It is sad that one year later we are facing the same ideals and the same vision of education. We will continue to demonstrate to defend reforms,” said Bedard-Wien.
The two demonstrators arrested on Tuesday night were stopped under Montreal’s controversial mask bylaw, passed by city council last May as the student protests began to gain strength.
According to Montreal police Sgt. Laurent Gingras, one of the people fought back during their arrest and assaulted a police officer.
Last Tuesday, 62 people were arrested as thousands took to the streets of Montreal. Tear gas and stun grenades were required as police and protesters clashed for hours downtown.
