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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums'Biggest Act of Civil Disobedience in Canadian History'--Marchers Defy Bill 78/Bang Pots & Pans!
'Biggest Act of Civil Disobedience in Canadian History'
Marchers defy Bill 78; Neighborhoods fill with sound of banging pots and pans
- Common Dreams staff
"The single biggest act of civil disobedience in Canadian history."
That's how yesterday's Montreal protest is being described today. Hundreds of thousands red-shirted demonstrators defied Quebec's new "anti-protest" law and marched through the streets of downtown Montreal filling the city with "rivers of red."
Tuesday marked the 100th day of the growing student protests against austerity measures and tuition increases. In response to the spreading protests, the conservative Charest government passed a new "emergency" law last Friday - Bill 78.
Since Bill 78 passed, people in Montreal neighborhoods have appeared on their balconies and in front of their houses to defiantly bang pots and pans in a clanging protest every night at 8 p.m.Bill 78 mandates:
Fines of between $1,000 and $5,000 for any individual who prevents someone from entering an educational institution or who participate in an illegal demonstration.
Penalties climb to between $7,000 and $35,000 for protest leaders and to between $25,000 and $125,000 for unions or student federations.
All fines DOUBLE for repeat offenders
Public demonstrations involving more than 50 people have to be flagged to authorities eight hours in advance, include itinerary, duration and time at which they are being held. The police may alter any of these elements and non-compliance would render the protest illegal.
Offering encouragement for someone to protest at a school, either tacitly or otherwise, is subject to punishment. The Minister of Education has said that this would include things like 'tweeting', 'facebooking', and has she has implied that wearing the student protest insignia (a red flag-pin) could also be subject to punishment.
No demonstration can be held within 50 meters of any school campus
Bill 78 not only "enraged civil libertarians and legal experts but also seems to have galvanized ordinary Quebecers." Since the law passed Friday, people in Montreal neighborhoods have appeared on their balconies and in front of their houses to defiantly bang pots and pans in a clanging protest every night at 8 p.m.
READ MORE AT LINK FOR OTHER SOURCES:
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/05/23-5?print
teddy51
(3,491 posts)worse than if it were a Conservative Government that passed that bill.
Posteritatis
(18,807 posts)provis99
(13,062 posts)the Conservatives tend to represent more the evangelical nuts, Alberta Texas-wannabes, crypto-fascists, and anti-socialistm conspiracy goofs.
teddy51
(3,491 posts)Ministers like Pierre Elliott Trudeau, John Cretian, and Paul Martin as Liberal Leaders.
provis99
(13,062 posts)and I believe you proved my point.
RufusTFirefly
(8,812 posts)And by the way, the NDP picked up a huge number of seats in Quebec in the last election.
You won't find me defending Martin, but Trudeau was originally NDP before he went all federal on us.
teddy51
(3,491 posts)on a number of occasions.
Joe Shlabotnik
(5,604 posts)He only took the job when his bid to lead the federal Conservatives went up in smoke.
WHEN CRABS ROAR
(3,813 posts)It dwarfs the NATO protests by tens of thousands if not a hundred thousand.
It also shows the proper response and contempt for unjust protest regulations.
This is big news.
stevedeshazer
(21,653 posts)That is really oppressive. That it's happening in Canada is shocking.
The greater the repression, the more they rise up !!!!
Posteritatis
(18,807 posts)Zanzoobar
(894 posts)fascisthunter
(29,381 posts)awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)were as "cute" as these Canadians.
fascisthunter
(29,381 posts)Odin2005
(53,521 posts)OCCUPY!!!
sakabatou
(42,202 posts)starroute
(12,977 posts)I'm not sure just when -- he tweeted that he has his airline reservation and is looking for someone with a good cellphone hotspot that he can pay to borrow. I'd expect he'd be going tomorrow or early Friday.
Hopefully then we'll see the kind of coverage we just haven't been getting up to now. Tim has done more than almost anyone to bring Occupy to people's notice, and I'd love to see him work his magic in Quebec -- and hopefully inspire some local livestreamers to pick up the torch after he leaves.
http://www.ustream.tv/timcast (offline now)
Joe Shlabotnik
(5,604 posts)(Just thought I'd say that for my 1000th post)