Dozens of protesters in standoff with police
Anti-G7 protesters demonstrate in Beauport, Que., on Friday as the G7 summit begins. ‘Cat and mouse’ game playing out in streets, parks of Quebec City
QUEBEC— Police chased anti-G7 protesters through the streets of Quebec City on Friday, as small pockets of activists carried out a series of actions aimed at tiring out security forces and disrupting activities related to the summit.
While the protesters occasionally blocked traffic and on one occasion set a pair of sofas on fire, as of early evening their protests were largely peaceful as they played cat and mouse with police through the city streets and parks.
They were closely followed at all times by a large police presence that included flashing sirens, helicopters, the occasional police dog and large contingents of officers marching in formation.
Quebec City police said they arrested six people for unlawful assembly and one for obstructing the work of a police officer over the course of the day.
“I don’t believe in democracy any more,” said one 28-year-old tattooed protester, who went by the name of Cantsin. “A lot of people here will tell you the same thing.”
Danielle Lambert, 58, said she wants wealth to be redistributed in society by having governments get serious about going after offshore tax havens. “It’s the least they can do,” she said.
By mid-afternoon, a few dozen protesters faced off with police on the Plains of Abraham. Many were dressed in black and masked, as police in riot gear slowly surrounded the park. There, a masked woman confronted a handful of the officers, gesturing wildly as she accused them of violating the protesters’ rights.
“We haven’t broken anything, we want to gather, we want to have the right to gather, and you’re taking that away from us!” she said.
Not all the demonstrations in Quebec City on Friday required a police presence. About 75 students from around the country travelled to the city with the World Vision humanitarian organization in support of girls living in conflict and disaster. Students walked around the legislature buildings in white graduation robes. Afew wore black robes, symbolizing a specific woman for whom they marched.