Protests in Montreal

In Montreal, Québec, Canada, students have been protesting tuition increases since August 2011. One protest on March 22, 2012, was 200,000 strong, prompting legislators to quickly draw up Bill 78, which became law on May 18. It made it illegal for more than 50 people to demonstrate spontaneously, with high fines imposed for infractions, and suspended classes until August.

In the next week, police arrested more than 600 people for protesting, and that garnered the demonstrators widespread public support. On May 25, over 10,000 people marched against Bill 78, which many feel is unconstitutional.

At press time, marches of up to 10,000 people have continued nightly, with “casserole protesters” banging pots and pans. The demonstrations generally have been peaceful, but traffic has been interrupted and there have been shutdowns at metro stops.