Activists gather for ‘festive mass demonstration’ against G7 summit

QUEBEC— Quebec City’s historic district looked as though business owners were preparing for a mini hurricane to blow through the cobblestone streets on Thursday, as several storefronts were barricaded with plywood in anticipation of anti-G7 protests.

So far, demonstrations were tense but calm, as protesters congregated in growing numbers in a city park.

Stores that were open for business vastly outnumbered the shuttered facades.

But the police presence in the old city was noticeable — squad cars drove through the area and uniformed officers kept watch at different spots across the neighbourhood popular with tourists and locals alike.

On Thursday evening, protesters gathered for what organizers had described as a “festive mass demonstration against the G7, capitalism, patriarchy, colonialism, racism and borders.”

The atmosphere was upbeat as protesters slowly filtered in, with some bearing signs advocating for diverse causes as food security, open borders and environmental protection.

For a pay-what-you-want donation, protesters were offered zucchini cake, rice and tofu, and vegetable soup.

While the scene was peaceful, Alice-Anne Simard of environmental group Eau Secours declined to condemn possible violence.

“We will not condemn acts that have not been committed,” she said. “We are here to protest and we are here to denounce the violence of the neoliberal policies of the G7 members.”

While the G7 summit will be held 140 kilometres northeast of Quebec City in the resort town of La Malbaie, diverse groups including unions, aid organizations and anti-capitalists have been organizing protests in the provincial capital.