Canada student protests erupt into political crisis with mass arrests
Protests, some of which turned violent, have raged for over three months against a plan by provincial Premier Jean Charest's government to raise tuition fees at Quebec universities by 82 percent, or $1,700, over five years.
Many protesters are also now rallying against a special law passed last week requiring organizers to notify authorities eight hours ahead of public protests and suspending classes at strike-bound universities until mid-August.
Police in Montreal had said that Wednesday's unsanctioned protest would be tolerated if there was no trouble but after some unruly behavior around midnight, they moved in and arrested 518 demonstrators. Another 176 people were detained in Quebec City.
All were issued with a fine exceeding $600 and released early Thursday, a police spokesman said.
It was the first time that law enforcement conducted such a large mass arrest in the French-speaking province.
Several thousand demonstrators had poured into Montreal's central square for the rally against the special law.
About two hundred youths returned to the streets of Montreal on Thursday to express their anger at the law, this time wearing ninja and pirate costumes in a festive atmosphere.
But what began as a protest against university fee increases has expanded to a wider movement to oppose Bill 78, which was rushed through by legislators in Quebec in response to the demonstrations. The bill imposes severe restrictions on protests, making it illegal for protesters to gather without having given police eight hours' notice and securing a permit.
On Wednesday night, police in Montreal used kettling techniques – officers surrounding groups of protesters and not allowing them in or out of the resulting circle – before conducting a mass arrest.
Police immediately declared Wednesday's protest illegal, but allowed it to continue for about four hours before surrounding protesters and making arrests.
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