© The Canadian Press/Jacques Boissinot Two riot police officers tackle a demonstrator Friday, May 4, 2012 in Victoriaville, Quebec. Provincial police say a riot in small-town Quebec last week was the most violent protest they've seen in more than a decade and insist their response was a measured one.
The protest was declared illegal at around 8:30 a.m. ET and protesters were told to disperse.
Authorities were trying to enforce a court injunction allowing some students to return to class. Similar scenes have played out at colleges across Quebec in the past few weeks.
The tactical officers began moving in on the group just after 9 a.m., pulling people out from the mass of demonstrators and arresting them. Tear gas was also fired.
Students flashed peace signs at officers as the group was forced from the entrance, and pushed back across the property by the advancing line of police.
Parents of some of the students watched on in tears as the officers, dressed in heavy tactical gear, moved toward the campus.
Earlier in the morning, demonstrators briefly blocked the Jacques Cartier Bridge in Montreal, temporarily disrupting traffic.
Montreal police moved in quickly, chasing some of the demonstrators through a nearby park before making 19 arrests.
More student demonstrations are planned throughout the day.
The latest protests come a day after Quebec's education minister resigned and another member of Premier Jean Charest's cabinet stepped in to take her place.
Treasury board chair Michelle Courchesne is taking over the hot file, including talks with student groups that began protests over univeristy tuition hikes 14 weeks ago.
Courchesne is expected to meet with student groups and school administrators Tuesday night.
Reader Comments
to our Newsletter