Violent clashes broke out between recalcitrant to health measures and the police as soon as the curfew arrived on Sunday evening after a weekend of overflows in the parks.
• Read also: Rain of tickets at the gathering of tams-tams
• Read also: Gatherings in parks disturb
• Read also: SPVM: a video of a police officer attacking an individual under analysis
–
–
Hundreds of people gathered illegally shortly before 8 p.m. at Place Jacques-Cartier in the Old Port of Montreal.
« Fuck Legault, no to curfew, and freedom, ”chanted demonstrators, setting off fireworks.
Photo QMI Agency, Mario Beauregard
Police officers enforce social distancing at Jeanne-Mance Park.
–
–
–
They also smashed benches, set fire to garbage cans in addition to smashing several windows of traders, according to what was observed. The newspaper on the spot.
–
–
There was tension in the air, to the point where some of them wore bulletproof vests. A cameraman was even physically assaulted by a protester.
Photo QMI Agency, Mario Beauregard
A protester in the Old Port of Montreal was subdued by numerous SPVM agents.
–
–
–
Just an hour after the rally began, the police were struggling to disperse the crowd.
“We stay together,” cried the demonstrators, the majority of whom were not wearing face coverings.
–
–
Policemen on the lookout … in the parks
According to our observations, the anti-sanitary measures demonstration surprised the Montreal police officers.
Rather, they were present in large numbers in the parks to monitor the entry into force of the curfew, which ultimately took place peacefully.
Several outbursts this weekend seemed to have prompted them to increase their presence in these places.
–
–
Moreover, Jeanne-Mance Park was evacuated Friday, around 8:30 p.m., due to numerous gatherings. The next day, the police again had to disperse people in Lafontaine Park.
However, the cold weather and the end of the weekend helped to respect the sanitary rules in the parks on Sunday.
–
–
On the side of Mount Royal, the tam-tam players picked up their instruments at 7 p.m., despite an afternoon marked by numerous tickets given (see other text).
“For our part, it went well today. We respected the distance and the wearing of masks, but there were a few arrests. [Les policiers] are doing their job and I have done mine so that everything goes well, ”says Charles Emond, as he left Jeanne-Mance Park accompanied by his friend.
“We’re from Ontario. We thought that the curfew would come at 10 pm tonight, ”Ariane said before packing up her speaker and leaving the premises.
Photo QMI Agency, Thierry Laforce
The Old Port of Montreal was the scene of ugly scenes first thing in the evening, with devastation in a few places.
–
–
–
Concerned experts
These releases and the rise of variants are still worrying experts, while young people are more affected by new infections.
” It is hopeless. Seriously walking around like that and seeing people, when I’m back from work, working with people who are exhausted from giving all the time, their 120%, who can’t see the end of it ” , indignant the Dr François Marquis, head of intensive care at Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital, in an interview with TVA Nouvelles, Sunday.
–
