Riot police keep peace as Bill 21 protest draws hundreds from both sides in MontreaThe confrontation took place three days before a National Assembly committee is to begin hearings on the bill.

 A protester holds a flag in front of riot police as a group of Bill 21 protesters chant outside TVA offices in Montreal on Saturday, May 4, 2019. CHRISTINNE MUSCHI / MONTREAL GAZETTEANDY RIGAUpdated: May 4, 2019


A group of Bill 21 protesters chant outside TVA with riot police watching in Montreal on Saturday, May 4, 2019. CHRISTINNE MUSCHI / MONTREAL GAZETTE

For two hours Saturday afternoon, supporters of Bill 21 faced off against counter-protesters in downtown Montreal, separated by a phalanx of riot police.

Hundreds of supporters of the bill, which would ban some government workers from wearing religious symbols, assembled outside the offices of the TVA television network for a “vague bleue” rally organized by a sovereignist group calling for the establishment of a “citizen’s constitution.”

They were met by a smaller group of people, some with their faces covered by bandanas, who had heeded a call for an “anti-racist demonstration against the xenophobic ‘vague bleue’ rally.” They said the rally was the work of the “identitarian right” and ultra-nationalists.
At least one rally-goer was wearing a jacket featuring the logo of Storm Alliance, a far-right group.

Under Bill 21, proposed by Premier François Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec government, some Quebec public servants, including teachers, police officers and judges, would be barred from wearing religious symbols such as the Muslim hijab, the Jewish kippah and the Sikh turban.

The confrontation took place three days before a National Assembly committee is to begin hearings on the bill.

On Saturday, dozens of police officers swarmed the area around TVA’s headquarters at Maisonneuve Blvd. and Champlain St.

As the two sides yelled slogans and taunted each other, police pushed back counter-protesters so a pair of police buses could be placed between the adversaries.

Waving Quebec and Patriotes flags and chanting “In Québec, secularism!” “Québec, a country!” and “Legault, Legault!” the pro-Bill 21 rally drowned out the anti-racist, anti-fascist slogans of the counter-protesters.

The anti-Bill 21 group also targeted TVA, the TV network owned by the Quebecor empire of former Parti Québécois leader Pierre Karl Péladeau. “Shame, TVA!” they yelled.

After two hours, those in favour of Bill 21 were allowed to march down Alexandre-DeSève and La Fontaine Sts., where some boarded buses.

Montreal police said two people were arrested during the event — a 39-year-old man for allegedly assaulting a police officer and a 16-year-old boy for allegedly scrawling graffiti on a police car.

No physical altercations were reported and police said there were no injuries. However, at least one person was taken away by ambulance after feeling unwell at the rally.

As the marchers walked down La Fontaine St., a Montreal police officer told a Montreal Gazette reporter and photographer not to follow the demonstrators because a private security company hired by organizers did not want them there. When the journalists insisted on proceeding, the officer allowed them.

Private security was provided by men wearing black, military-style uniforms with a logo for the Groupe de sécurité patriotique (GSP).

The debate over Bill 21 is expected to be played out on the streets of Montreal again on Sunday when opponents of the proposed law are planning a “Human Chain Against Bill 21.”

Organized by a group called Coalition Inclusion Québec, the event is to begin at 1 p.m. Sunday at Champ de Mars, a park in Old Montreal.


Several hundred flag-waving Bill 21 
supporters here, outside TVA offices
12:12 PM - May 4, 2019

Montreal police reportedly clashed 
with counter-demonstrators
 earlier. The anti-Bill-21 protesters
 are now gathered in a nearby square.
12:17 PM - May 4, 2019

Montreal police seem to be bracing for
 a confrontation between pro and 
anti Bill 21 activists. We’re being 
pushed behind a police line
12:29 PM - May 4, 2019

Group that appears to be anti fascists
 is now pretty close to the pro Bill 21 rally.
12:32 PM - May 4, 2019

Insults are being exchanged.
#bill22 #pl21
12:36 PM - May 4, 2019

Bill-21 supporters also yelling
 pro-sovereignty slogans at
 counter-protesters
12:40 PM - May 4, 2019

Ambulance here, apparently because 
of a malaise within the pro-21 ranks
12:45 PM - May 4, 2019

Antifa protesters are being drowned 
out by the much bigger pro-21 rally
12:54 PM - May 4, 2019

Police are pushing back anti-21 protesters 
so they can separate the two sides with 
a couple of police buses.
1:06 PM - May 4, 2019

The debate over Bill 21 will be played out
 on Montreal streets again tomorrow

Protesters are planning a 'human chain against Bill 21' on Sunday
Organized by a group called Coalition Inclusion Québec, the event 
is to begin at 1 p.m. at Champ de Mars, a park in Old Montreal.
montrealgazette.com
See Andy Riga, Montreal's other Tweets

Anti-21 protesters are yelling « Honte TVA ». 
The pro-21 rally is taking place in front 
of the Quebecor TV network
1:17 PM - May 4, 2019

Pro-21 group quite likes Premier François Legault
1:20 PM - May 4, 2019

But some aren’t big fans of the media
:23 PM - May 4, 2019

Bill 21 standoff continues at 
Maisonneuve/Champlain, 
though tension has dropped now 
that the two sides are separated
 by the police buses
1:35 PM - May 4, 2019

Some are still exchanging taunts.
1:48 PM - May 4, 2019

There’s a rumour police are going to 
allow pro-21 group to march.
2:10 PM - May 4, 2019

Organizers are asking pro-21 group 
to disperse and not wave Quebec flags 
as they walk away “to avoid being attacked”
2:18 PM - May 4, 2019

Apparently, pro-21 group is not 
dispersing or putting away their flags
2:23 PM - May 4, 2019

A confrontation, apparently over the 
taking of some photos
2:33 PM - May 4, 2019
Montreal police officer asked me and 
photographer to leave the pro-21 
march because organizers’ private 
security didn’t want us there.
 But he let us go on when we insisted.
2:44 PM - May 4, 2019

Most of the pro-21 marchers have gone
 but many police officers are still swarming
 the area. Just saw these chasing a man
 who appeared to me an antifa protester

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