Far-right groups set for another Quebec City protest

Three months after the last protest in Quebec City, far-right groups and far-left groups are preparing to face off once again on Saturday, each side renting buses to descend on the capital from Montreal and other regions.

This time, La Meute, the most prominent of the far-right groups, will be joined by Storm Alliance, a splinter group formed out of the Soldiers of Odin, as well as other marginal groups, like the Front patriotique du Québec, a separatist “identity” group.

Anti-fascists and anti-racists, largely from Montreal, have vowed to disrupt the protest.

What are they protesting against?

Two months ago, La Meute announced it would be protesting against the Liberal government’s hearings on systemic racism and discrimination. Those hearings have since been cancelled, replaced by a “forum on the value of diversity and the fight against discrimination.” Still, La Meute members have continued to say they are protesting against the “systemic contempt of the Couillard government toward the people of Quebec.”

Despite Bill 62, passed in October and banning face coverings in public services, La Meute and Storm alliance are also protesting against the niqab, illegal immigration and what they perceive to be creeping Shariah law.

Dave Tregget, the leader of Storm Alliance, has told his supporters to “choose whatever cause motivates you and be there.”

What happened last time?

On Aug. 20, La Meute ended up corralled inside a parking garage for several hours, while antifascists, some of them wearing masks, clashed with riot police outside. One man was hit in the head, and protesters threw chairs and bricks at the police and set a trash bin on fire. Three weeks later, two men, 19 and 20, were charged with assault causing bodily harm, while the 19-yearold was also charged with armed assault.

Some saw the protest as a public relations victory for the far-right groups, who in comparison remained calm and peaceful, albeit in the parking garage.

La Meute has called on its members to be silent during the protest on Saturday. “This method has proven its worth and has a strong psychological impact as well as demonstrating our discipline,” Sylvain Brouillette wrote on Facebook.

Critics believe imposing silence on the members also prevents them from veering away from the group’s more acceptable, mainstream message.

Who will be there?

La Meute is hoping to get at least 1,000 people on the streets on Saturday. Although they have more than 43,000 members on their secret Facebook page, getting keyboard warriors to show up has been difficult. Part of the problem is that many of the 43,000 are not voluntary members. A Buzzfeed report showed some members were signing up hundreds of other members on the secret site, without them necessarily being aware of it. Coalition Avenir Québec MNA Nathalie Roy, for example, immediately removed herself from the membership list when she was alerted that her name was on it.

There is even a Liberal MNA who appears as a member on the secret site — Marc Carrière from Gatineau. He could not be reached for comment Thursday.

As for the anti-fascists, as of Thursday, some 468 people had expressed interest in joining the counter-demonstration.

Quebec City police are bracing for clashes on Saturday. La Meute has advised its members not to respond to insults or attacks.

“If you are a victim of pushing, or have been hit by projectiles, advise a member of the security, identified in yellow, who will do what’s necessary to file a complaint with the police.”