fear to sleep: An account of the anti-capitalist MayDay in Montreal (+ pics & vidz)

venerdì 4 maggio 2012

An account of the anti-capitalist MayDay in Montreal (+ pics & vidz)

from the street:
Another day of clashes with the cops and attacks on the State and Capital (TD and BMO banks, Les Ailes de la Mode, Tommy Hillfiger, Vidéotron, Loto-Québec and cop cars) in the ongoing uprising in Montreal.
Thousands of anti-capitalists, many anarchists, but also feminists, communists, striking students and various groups for social justice joined in the street in Montreal. A considerable part of the crowd was masked and dressed in black.

Even before the demonstration began a member of the Revolutionary Communist Party was arrested. The demo left Champ-de-Mars around 5:15 pm, recalling the starting point of the first MayDay demonstration in the history of Montreal. The crowd applauded eachtime fireworks were shot, but overall remained relatively silent during the first 45 min. Apart from the SQ helicopter [Québec provincial police] which is now part of the landscape, a riot squad followed on the sidewalk to the right of the crowd as to provoque protesters. Tension was so palpable we could have cut it with a knife. At one point what seemed to be a flare was fired in their direction and a group of people started naguing them with donuts hanging from makeshift fishing rods.
After about 45 min after the march turned north and headed for St. Catherine Street, the cops declared it illegal on a loudspeaker with people yelling back “we dont give a fuck”. Afew moments later at the crossing of St. Catherine Street a line of riotpigs charged on the crowd from west, grabbing someone, but even while shooting rubber bullets and teargas they soon retreated before volleys of projectiles; stones bottles, fireworks, etc… It is clear that what Capitals’ militia wanted was to prevent at any cost the wave of black-clad to spill more deeply into the center of Montreal, specifically the part where corporate shops and banks are stacked in a big luminous display of the capitalist spectacle. In front of retreating cops the crowd still decided to continue north while another line of cops was coming from south. Several windows of a BMO bank were shattered. More cops were waiting further, again west side and the protest turned eastward. The cops grasped the opportunity to run behind firing rubber bullets, tear gas and throwing stun grenades into the crowd which responded by throwing stones and smashing a few windows, like one of Loto-Quebec. After several minutes beeing chased, the crowd began to disperse and reformed shortly after in St. Louis Square to march towards the Émilie-Gamelin park where a student demonstration was called for the evening.
The cops deployed everywhere and began jumping on anyone. One hundred arrests took place including a mass arrest of 70 people just before 19h. Many people were able to converge at Émilie-Gamelin Park. Cops cars were splashed with red and pink paint and a clash with riotpigs aresting people took place before they dispersed and distanced themselves while the more pacified student crowd gathered for their 9th nightly demo.
Each day is a struggle and everwhere revolt is possible!
Solidarity with the insurgents of Oakland, Seattle, Greece, Chile, Spain, Indonesia and with all groups and individuals in confrontation with power and domination. The battle continues on all fronts!
Total liberation for all inside and outside the walls! Note: We’eve received information that amongst several people injured a young man is in the hospital with multiple skull fractures after being brutally assaulted by police during the demonstrations
some pics
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some vidz
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related articles / articles relatifs / artículos relacionados:

http://www.sabotagemedia.anarkhia.org/2012/05/an-account-of-the-anti-capitalist-mayday-in-montreal-pics-vidz/