A diverse crowd of thousands of protestors marched through-out the streets of Montreal on Sunday, as they spoke out against racism and, denounced the CAQ government and its immigration policies.
The Thanksgiving weekend protest saw masked anti-capitalist activists, Indigenous people, and Muslims unite in demonstrations. The rally started at Place Émilie-Gamelin and went along René Lévesque Boulevard.
A sizeable portion of protesters were women who wore hijabs.
At least a thousand protestors are a part of the demonstration that started at Place Émilie-Gamelin. They are now marching down Rene-Levesque. They're chanting for solidarity as they denounce the new CAQ Government. One protestor carries a sign comparing CAQ to KKK. #CJAD800 #MTL pic.twitter.com/e8qJtbSjGC
— Saif Kaisar (@StaySaif) October 7, 2018
Quebec's Premier-Designate, Francois Lagault, has stated he would cut down immigrations and subject new Quebecers to a French test, as well as a values test, within three years of arriving to the province. He also said he would pass legislation to ban public servants in positions of authority from wearing religious clothing such as hijabs, kippahs, crucifixes and turbans.
"Make Racists afraid again," now the chant of choice by demonstrators. Over a thousand people are marching against racism, and the CAQ government. Protests started at Place Émilie-Gamelin, went down Rene-Levesque, and is now wrapping back via Sainte-Catherine. #CJAD800 #MTL pic.twitter.com/fB0oVlQkZu
— Saif Kaisar (@StaySaif) October 7, 2018
"I came to this country because they said it was a democracy, and that we have the right to be a Muslim," said Kira, a protestor in Sunday's demonstrations.
Protestors chanted, "more united, not divided," among other rally cries. They also demand for Legault to step down from his new position, "hey hey, ho ho, Francois Legault has got to go," and "Francois, Quebec belongs to me."
"Refugees in, racism out. Immigrants in, facists out," protestors now chanting. Demonstrators have now reached Rene-Levesque and Peel. They are showing no signs of fatigue with over a thousand protestors out here now. #CJAD800 #Montreal #MTL pic.twitter.com/uQld3UGamk
— Saif Kaisar (@StaySaif) October 7, 2018
The protest took placed just hours after a downtown statue of Sir John A. Macdonald was spray-painted.
An anonymous group, which describes itself as anti-colonial and anti-capitalist, claimed responsibility for the damage.
The statue has been vandalized on several occasions, including this past August.
Towards the end of the protest, a smoke bomb was lit on René Lévesque Boulevard, sending a red stream of smoke into the air.