Over 400 students arrested in Canada during the latest night of mass rallies against tuition fee hikes. Tensions have spiraled after the adoption of a bill that limits students’ rights to freedom of speech, association and assembly
Mass arrests: Over 700 Canadian protesters detained in police crackdown (VIDEO, PHOTOS)
Over 700 students have been arrested in Canada during the latest night of rallies against tuition fee hikes and the adoption of controversial bill that is widely seen as a tool to limit freedom of speech, association and assembly.
Police in Montreal dispersed unsanctioned protests and arrested 518 demonstrators on Wednesday night. The arrests were also made in Quebec City, where some 170 were detained, and in Sherbrooke. There were no reports of injuries or casualties.
Police used kettling tactics to encircle the protesters and contain them within a small space. People reportedly threw projectiles such as fireworks and bottles at officers, forcing them to carry out extensive arrests.
Most of those detained have already been released. Some face $1,000 fines.
For over 14 weeks, Canada has been facing the most sustained student demonstration in its history. The protest on Wednesday started as a peaceful march of thousands, just like the majority of previous rallies.
In order to give the police another non-lethal means of pressure on protesters, Quebec’s legislative assembly adopted a bill that introduces enormous fines of $24,000 to $122,000 against unions and student organizations which do not stop their members from protesting. Individuals found guilty of organizing a protest now face a fine of some $34,000.
On Tuesday, the movement marked the 100th day of demonstrations against the tuition hikes of around $250 per year with a massive rally in Montreal. Over 120 people were detained following the event.
Demonstrators match on May 23, 2012 as they protest student tuition hikes.(AFP Photo / Andre Tremblay)
Demonstrators match on May 23, 2012 as they protest student tuition hikes (AFP Photo / Andre Tremblay)
Montreal police march during a protest against student tuition hikes on the 100th day of Quebec's student strikes, in downtown Montreal May 22, 2012 (AFP Photo / Andre Tremblay)
$250 a year this year, then again, next year, then next year; they want to hike up the tuition over seven years and it seems like Canadians are the only ones smart enough to nip the bud before a shitty impossible to destroy flower blooms, like it has elsewhere...itsaheadlumpyouninny
This is not about tuition anymore. It is now an all out power struggle....Jwaness
ReplyDelete$250 a year this year, then again, next year, then next year; they want to hike up the tuition over seven years and it seems like Canadians are the only ones smart enough to nip the bud before a shitty impossible to destroy flower blooms, like it has elsewhere...itsaheadlumpyouninny
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