The ‘nude’ protest started at about 7.30pm local time, as many tourists dined
al fresco in downtown Montreal.
Protesters said they were naked for a number of reasons: to show the
government they have been transparent in their demands to freeze tuition
fees; to garner more media attention; and to discourage police from handling
them roughly.
Onlookers were unsure how to react, with some amused by the goings on, some
frightened, some sympathetic and some angry.
Jacques Villeneuve, Canada’s former world champion, was certainly in the last
category, arguing that it was time for the students to go “back to school”.
“It’s time for people to wake up and stop loafing about. It’s lasted long
enough,” Villeneuve said. “We heard them. We listened. They should stop.
It’s costing the city a fortune. It makes no sense.
“I think these people grew up without ever hearing their parents ever tell
them, ‘No.’ So that’s what you see in the streets now. People spending their
time complaining.
“It’s becoming a little bit ridiculous. They spoke, we heard, and now it’s
time to go back to school.”