As residual tear gas pollutes the air and people casually roam Quebec City streets, police continue to traverse the city, carrying out random arrests.

Sunday, April 22

3 :45pm

Wandering along the perimeter, we rounded a corner at Rue St. Patrice and came upon several dozen people milling about, as two officers patrolled from behind the fence. Suddenly, two white vans screeched into the alley. Approximately, ten cops jumped out, swiftly grabbing two men. The police roughly jostled one into the van, while shoving the second against a brick wall. A small crowd gathered to observe, confronting the police with shouts of "Fascist" and chants of "Solidarity". The officers glanced around menacingly and fingered their pepper spray, before diving back into the vehicle and roaring off.

The police appeared to have targeted the two individuals in advance. According to a bystander, moments earlier a group of people had begun shouting at the patrolling officers. Apparently, one of those arrested had been shaking the chain-link fence. A policewoman then spoke into a radio, precipitating the vans’ rapid arrival and likely designating individuals for arrest.

We remained in the alley following the incident, as a demonstrator recounted an experience from earlier in the day. Walking down a particularly gas-filled street, he was accosted by two officers sporting elaborate gas masks. Threatening the young man with arrest, they instructed him to remove his goggles and ski mask immediately. He explained that he could not, as they were necessary for protection from the toxic fumes. They repeated their warning, allowing him to proceed only after he followed their orders.

As we chatted, two men strolled around the corner on the inside of the perimeter. They continued along the grass for several minutes. The patrolling officer approached them and appeared to request their passes (required for presence behind the fence). One of the men attempted to hand him a stack of papers instead. The policeman pushed him violently onto the concrete, pinning his arms behind his back, and unleashing a flurry of anti-FTAA flyers. Bystanders rushed over toward the fence, outraged by the flagrant brutality. Several police vehicles arrived after a short time later and the men were hustled inside, but not before one raised his arms in triumph. The crowd burst into cheers, again chanting "Solidarity".

Meanwhile, two more men approached the police, displaying their perimeter passes. Stepping a few yards away from the officers, they unrolled a large anti-FTAA banner. The crowd cheered, as the authorities looked on grudgingly. Apparently the possession of valid passes afforded the men this right, which the police temporarily chose not to violate.