Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Montreal on Saturday to denounce the health restrictions that remain in force, among other things.
Posted at 5:02 p.m.
Updated at 5:48 p.m.
A convoy, associated with groups protesting the Freedom Fighters and Unifiers, left Ottawa in the morning. He first stopped in Vaudreuil-Dorion then Anjou before reaching La Fontaine Park, according to information posted on social networks.
The demonstrators gathered around 2 p.m. in a parking lot at the intersection of Papineau Avenue and Sherbrooke Street before taking the street around 4 p.m. to head downtown.
Many of them waved the flags of Quebec and Canada, often displaying slogans related to freedom or insults against Prime Ministers Justin Trudeau and François Legault. Some also carried flags of the United States or former US President Donald Trump.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Many demonstrators waved flags of Quebec and Canada, often displaying slogans related to freedom or insults against Prime Ministers Justin Trudeau and François Legault.
A leader of the convoy, who presents himself as Yan, a father of Saint-Eustache on Facebook, initially refused to speak to The Press. “We don’t want masks anymore, we don’t want them anymore, the state of health emergency is over. Legault, we don’t want the state of emergency anymore, that’s enough, you are all corrupt. It’s over, I don’t talk to you anymore my boyfriend, that’s it “, he still vociferated.
Bill 28, which is to end the state of health emergency, provides that many exceptional measures remain in place until December 31, which has drawn strong criticism from the opposition.
“What brings me here are our rights and freedoms,” said Jonathan Blanchette, met on site. He is particularly against the state of health emergency and “all the exceptional powers of the government”.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
The Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) had no overflow or arrest to report at the end of the afternoon.
A young woman who did not want to identify herself said she was there “for the vibes, it feels good to see smiles, it feels good to see happy people, to have social contact, which we have been deprived of for a while”. Another denounced “political measures” and not health.
Many protesters at the scene said they were opposed to requiring masks to be worn indoors, as well as travel restrictions that affect people who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Bill 28, which is to end the state of health emergency, provides that many exceptional measures remain in place until December 31, which has drawn strong criticism.
Some were also against Bill 15, adopted last week, under which the interests of the child must take precedence over any other consideration, including that of his parents.
“There are many who are against it because they are afraid that the government overreach in parental rights, ”said Jean-François Duquette at the wheel of his van. “It’s good for children, but in another sense, with theoverreach that we have seen for two years, we are afraid that it will go further. »
The Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) had no overflow or arrest to report at the end of the afternoon.