Mayor, MPs Condemn Violent May Day Demonstration in Montreal

A Montreal Police logo is seen in Montreal on July 8, 2020. The Canadian Press/Paul Chiasson

Local and federal politicians are condemning the actions of protestors after the annual May Day march in Montreal turned violent, with demonstrators smashing windows of businesses and setting off smoke bombs.

Thousands of people turned out to the International Workers Day or May Day march at Francois-Perrault Park near the Saint-Michel metro station on May 1, according to reports. The event was organized by a coalition of unions and community organizations under the umbrella group May 1 Montreal Coalition.

Videos circulating on social media show protestors in black masks and hoods smashing windows and throwing parking cones and other items.

Montreal police said officers had to step in to disperse the crowd.

“Due to several offenses committed during [demonstrations], we are carrying out a dispersal operation in the Sherbrooke/Robert-Bourassa sector. People must leave the premises immediately,” police said in a post on X.

Smoke bombs, parking cones, trash cans, and signs were thrown about by demonstrators, according to a TVA reporter, who also said officers were attacked and pepper spray was used.

The Epoch Times contacted the May 1 Montreal Coalition and Montreal police for comment but did not hear back by publication time.

Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante condemned the protesters’ behaviour in a post on social media.

“These actions are absolutely unacceptable,” she said in a May 2 post on social media. “I denounce the mayhem suffered by downtown merchants last night during the anti-capitalist demonstration.”

She said the right to demonstrate does “not justify acts of vandalism.”

“Montreal is a metropolis of peace, listening, and inclusion, where it is possible to express oneself while respecting rights and laws. We must all defend these common values,” Ms. Plante said.

Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman was also critical of the demonstrators’ actions.

“What an abject failure by leaders everywhere on calling this what it is. After nine years of Justin Trudeau, crime and chaos rule our streets,” she said in a May 2 social media post, accusing the Liberal government of having policies that “allow this kind of lawlessness to flourish.”

Liberal MP Anthony Housefather also condemned the acts, saying just because protesters believe an injustice is happening does not give them the right to break the law, destroy and occupy property, and “spew hate.”

Mr. Housefather said the actions of demonstrators must be condemned and “the law applied.”

This year’s theme for the protest event was ‘united to make our voices heard,’ according to a press release from the coalition.

The release said there were concerns that needed to be handled collectively, including climate change, working conditions of temporary foreign workers, “antidemocratic abuses” by Quebec Premier François Legault, and an out-of-touch government.

“Our political leaders aren’t listening, so it’s up to us to make ourselves heard. What was true yesterday is just as true today and remains so tomorrow: when we’re united, our voices carry,” the group said in the  press release.

May Day events go back to 1889, according to Encyclopedia Britannica, and were started by socialist groups in the United States looking to commemorate an 1886 riot in Chicago called the Haymarket Riot.

In the riot, which was born out of workers’ demands for an 8-hour workday, one person died and others were injured in clashes with police. The next day, what started as a peaceful gathering of labour leaders in Haymarket Square, ended with someone throwing a bomb and police responding with gunfire. Seven officers were killed and 60 injured. Up to eight civilians also died in the incident and between 30 and 40 were injured.

May Day is still officially commemorated in many countries on May 1 although, not in Canada or the U.S. President Grover Cleveland signed legislation making the first Monday in September an official holiday in honour of workers. Canada also implemented Labour Day as a holiday soon after.