On March 22nd, thousands of students from across Quebec will march against tuition fee increases. The McGill contingent will gather at noon north of the Roddick Gates. We will also be joined by students from Macdonald Campus and associations from Laval University, Sherbrooke University and the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, and will be leaving around 1 pm to join the main march which begins at the corner of René-Lévesque and Peel.
The planned route for the march is available here: http://1625canepassepas.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/TrajetComplet.png.
Please note that it is possible the march will not stick to this route, or that it will be present on other streets, given the number of people who may attend.
A triage zone has been set up for any first aid needs. SSMU Walksafe and McGill Student Emergency Response Team (MSERT) will also be present on campus to provide first aid and other assistance if needed.
TIPS
Here are some tips to keep in mind if you choose to attend the march:
Comfort & Fun
– Bring snacks and enough water – it’s going to be a warm day!
– Wear comfortable shoes you can walk and run in.
– Try to avoid carrying heavy or impractical bags and leave valuables at home.
– Make sure your phone is fully charged before you head out, so you can easily contact people you know in the march.
– Banners and witty slogans, colourful face paint, and musical instruments can contribute to a festive protest atmosphere (just don’t annoy your protest neighbours too much!).
Safety
Thousands of students will take to the streets, and, just like the provincial day of action last November, we can look forward to an upbeat, peaceful march. While we hope that everyone who participates in the protest will be safe, it is possible that the protest may escalate into confrontation between police and protesters. The tips below aim to help you prepare and think through potential situations in advance.
– Don’t go to a demonstration alone! Go with a buddy or a group of friends and stick with them throughout. Especially if you are new to attending protests, we recommend having a buddy who has the same comfort level as you do for potentially tense situations, and that you discuss in advance at what point you may choose to leave the march. If you need a buddy, you can email myprotestbuddy@gmail.com.
– It’s also advisable to let someone who won’t be attending the march (e.g. a roommate, friend, partner, or family member) know that you’re going and what your plans are, so that you can check in with them when you get home.
– Typically, protests are more likely to escalate towards the end. If you are uncomfortable with potential escalation, you may wish to leave promptly at the end of the march.
– When police consider a demonstration to be illegal, they usually make an announcement on a loudspeaker. If you don’t understand what is said (due to either distance or language), make sure to check with those around you. (If you don’t speak any French, try to go with someone who does!)
– Throughout the march, it is always up to each individual to decide what course of action to take if things escalate. People whose immigration status may be affected by an arrest should take extra precautions in this type of situation.
– Bring pen and paper in case you witness an incident, or to take down someone’s contact information.
– Police may use chemical irritants (e.g. tear gas or pepper spray) as well as sound or flash grenades (which are designed to be shot at either foot level or in an arc above a crowd, but there have been cases where students have been hit in the head and neck by grenades and canisters).
– Due to possible chemical irritants, you may wish to avoid wearing contact lenses to the march (as chemicals can concentrate between the contact and your eye and contacts inhibit the ability to wash chemicals out of your eyes), to wear light long-sleeved clothing to avoid skin irritation, and to avoid oil-based sunscreen and cosmetics which may trap irritants against your skin. People with respiratory problems may wish to be extra careful and to leave the march upon signs of chemical irritants.
– Some protesters will bring water to help wash away chemical irritants. Some will also bring bandanas (soaked in water, lemon juice, or apple cidre vinegar) to place across your mouth and nose to help protect against chemical irritants.
– If you need medical support in the march, look for street medics (most likely identified by a red cross).
– If you intend to remain at the protest throughout any escalation, and are willing to risk arrest, it is advisable to carry supplies of prescription medication and menstrual products as needed.
– A lawyer will be available on call tomorrow during the demonstration. As a precaution, be sure to have this phone number handy with you: 514-289-9995
– A legal aid hotline has also been set up. This number will not get you through to a lawyer, but can come in handy if you have any inquiries of a legal nature related to the march: 438-933-2773
– We will also do our best to provide updates on Twitter via @theSSMU. The most widely-used hashtag for the protest will probably be #manifencours.
– To get in touch with someone at SSMU during the demonstration, call Wallace Sealy at 514-398-5989.
– SACOMSS (the Sexual Assault Centre of McGill Students’ Society) will have volunteers in their office (B-27 of Shatner) from 12 pm to 6 pm on Thursday the 22nd for their regular services and are aware of potential needs in relation to the protest. Their support line (514-398-8500) will also be running from 12 pm to 9 pm.
This information isn’t meant to deter you from attending, but rather to help all students who wish to participate to be prepared and aware of potential dangers. While we can’t guarantee what will happen, we hope that the majority of the advice above will prove unnecessary!
