Anti-capitalist march in Montreal on May 1 ends with arrests, broken windows

Montreal police arrested nine protesters Sunday as exchanges between demonstrators and police escalated during a May Day march organized by the anti-capitalist group CLAC.

Police said protesters threw fireworks and tear gas in their direction in front of the neighboring police station on Ste-Catherine Street between Bishop and Mackay streets.

Shells broke two large windows of the police station and paint was thrown on the building.

Two police officers and two demonstrators were slightly injured.

Montreal police used pepper spray to disperse about 300 people. Police said they issued the dispersal order in response to “criminal activity”.

Orange smoke and the pungent smell of pepper filled the area around Bishop and Ste-Catherine streets.

Two meeting locations have been set for the CLAC march: McGill University's Roddick Gates and Phillips Field.

Several demonstrators came from La Fontaine Park and the Frontenac metro station, prompting a heavy police presence as they marched down rue Ste-Catherine in the city center.

According to the police, before the start of the march, 10 patrol cars were punctured at the meeting place.

VIDEO: Police chase away demonstrators before arresting journalist

Before the march, CLAC said it planned to “disrupt commercial activities dominated by the local bourgeoisie” and indicated that “interviews with the corporate media will not be granted.”

CLAC's May Day protest last year also ended in a break. Eighty-four people were arrested, 27 on criminal charges, and several were tear-gassed by police, including families and bystanders.

The police declared the march at Place des Arts at 6:00 p.m., where the rest of the protesters dispersed.

The FTQ march ended peacefully

Another May Day parade organized by the Quebec Labor Federation (FTQ) began at 1 p.m. at La Fontaine Park before heading to Jeanne-Mans Park.

May Day is celebrated around the world as a holiday and a time to celebrate and protect workers' rights.

FTQ and dozens of other organizations took the opportunity to call for Quebec's minimum wage to rise to $15.

Several protests from the FTQ march later joined the CLAC protest.