Mayor calls protest vandalism ‘stupid’
Montreal businesses worried about possibility of second anti-curfew riot
The front window of Frank Passa’s Old Montreal restaurant, Quattro, is covered with a piece of plywood, broken after an anti-curfew protest turned violent on Sunday night.
While some of his neighbours had their windows repaired on Monday morning, Passa said he plans to wait until the end of the week in case it happens again.
“There’s supposed to be another riot, another protest tonight,” he said in an interview outside the restaurant. “We’re not open, so what’s the use, I don’t want to pay twice.”
After hundreds of people gathered Sunday in the city’s historic district to protest the provincial government’s decision to advance the curfew to 8 p.m., some protesters led a destructive trail through the neighbourhood, breaking store windows and lighting garbage on fire.
Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante condemned the violence Monday, telling reporters what happened was “not acceptable” and describing the vandalism as “ridiculous” and “stupid.”
“People are allowed to protest,” she said. “It is their right, but do it right. Don’t attack people that are already suffering, that are dealing with COVID just like they are.”
For business owners in the targeted area, the pandemic has already been a challenge, and now they have to pay for repairs. “Already we’re losing 95 per cent of the sales, then you have to spend another $2,000 (on repairs),” Passa said.
He said he doesn’t understand the motivation of the vandals. “Because of the curfew, they did a protest and they smashed all the windows on the street. It won’t help them,” he said.
Isabelle Kapsaskis, one of the members of L’empreinte cooperative, which runs a gift shop in the Old Port, said her store was fortunate. While the outer window was broken, there was no damage inside.
“I’m mad. I’m really sad too,” she said about the vandalism.she said she hopes organizers of any future anti-curfew protests will discourage vandalism, but she worries it will happen again.
A police spokesperson said Monday that seven arrests were made following the damage Sunday night, though there was no immediate word on charges.