Civil Disobedience and More Beer

Wandering aimlessly around Montreal, I came across a group of people carrying banners and shouting as they walked down the street. Always one to get involved without really understanding the situation, I walked alongside, then among the protesters, until one of them approached me to ask, first in French and then in English, for a donation for their university which was experiencing budget cuts. As Rutgers, my alma matter, had just cut the men’s rowing team due to purported budget cuts, I was sympathetic and donated a few loonies. We talked for another hour, as the march eventually reached Hyrdo-Quebec (or something like that). Students shouted slogans, attempted to present a letter to the management, and were rebuffed by police carrying billy-clubs and shields and wearing helmets. In Canada, like the US, the man was keeping the voice of the students down.

I managed to get a few pictures of myself carrying signs i only partially understood, before parting ways with my fellow peaceful protesters and heading up to a popular area for local micro-brews and dinner. Still, I have to recommend marching as a great, free walking tour. Note the police car in the background of the photo!