TEMPERS FLARE
More pain for biz owners as Montrealers riot over curfew
MONTREAL — Shop owners along Notre-Dame St. in Old Montreal were busy sweeping glass from the sidewalk Monday after an anti-curfew demonstration Sunday night escalated into a riot.
“It was a disaster,” said Frank Passa, the owner of Ristorante Quattro near St-Laurent Blvd. He hadn't been aware of the protest.
On Sunday, Montreal's curfew was moved back to 8 p.m. from 9:30 p.m., resulting in a protest that began with people dancing to loud music, chanting anti-Premier Francois Legault slogans and calling for “freedom for the young.”
The seemingly festive tone turned sour when people lit fireworks and set fire to trash in Place Jacques Cartier. The Montreal police riot squad was deployed and used tear gas to clear the square, sending dozens of people into the streets of Old Montreal. They set fire to trash cans, destroyed city benches and smashed shop windows.
According to a preliminary review by the Montreal police, seven people were arrested, 107 tickets were given out related to public health rules and several cases of arson, mischief and breaking-and-entering were recorded.
Several shop owners were able to have their windows replaced overnight or early Monday morning, leaving no trace of the attacks other than shattered glass on the sidewalk and a sense of camaraderie among those who were targeted, all of whom have been struggling to survive the pandemic.
“Already it's hard, business,” said Passa. “We're closed and everything and now it's going to cost me another $2,000.”
Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante described the vandalism as “unacceptable” and defended the police response.