La Grande Mascarade

1,500 In Bright Colours Against Tuition Hikes

NewsHilary Sinclair — Published March 29, 2012

The most violent thing about today’s La Grande Mascarade protest against rising tuition was some intense glitter bombing.

Around 1,500 student took to Montreal streets today clad in creative costumes ranging from telephone booths to sequined pink, in a Mardi Gras-esque parade.

Divided into four groups, categorized by the colours that represent the metro lines, students followed routes through downtown Montreal which organizers had published prior to the event.

Few riot cops were scattered around the roots, watching over the Champlain Bridge and Service de police de la Ville de Montréal headquarters. Ten stood guard outside Premier Jean Charest’s office where a group of Concordia dance students organized a giant red square made of protesters.

The four groups reconvened at Place-des-Arts after three hours of protesting. Many moved to the L’Université du Québec à Montréal sciences building for some spirited speeches, dancing and the burning of a Charest effigy.

The SPVM reported three arrests, all charged for mischief.