Friday, May 18, 2012

Quebec Rocked by Student Protests

THE GUARDIAN: Students clash with police as Quebec introduces emergency laws to close universities and crack down on tuition fee demonstrations

Quebec's provincial government, facing the most sustained student protests in Canadian history, has introduced emergency legislation that would shut some universities and impose harsh fines on pickets blocking students from attending classes, as it looks to end three months of demonstrations against rises in tuition fees.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in downtown Montreal on Thursday night as the government introduced the bill, with protests spilling over onto an expressway between stalled cars. Tuesday will mark 100 days since the demonstrations began.

Authorities said 122 people were arrested on Wednesday as thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Montreal. Bank windows were smashed and missiles thrown at police. » | Associated Press in Montreal | Friday, May 18, 2012