On Thursday, tens of thousands of people took to the streets to protest proposed tuition hikes by the Quebec government. Marching through Montreal’s downtown core, the number of students and their supporters was so huge they made a protest line that was 7 kilometers long. Kids from all over the province came to join the protesters from Montreal’s universities and CEGEPs in the hopes that the more visibility they have, the more likely the provincial government will be to back down.
Though we couldn’t be with the protesters in the street we were with them in spirit. We’ve had our fair share of protesters in Montreal lately—from the Occupy group to nurses—and we have to say (as shallow as it’s going to sound) the students have the best style. In the span of a few short weeks they’ve managed to create their own protester brand.
A small square of red felt pinned somewhere on your person shows you’re in solidarity with the demonstrators. (We’ve seen everyone from babies to grannies with some red pinned to their chest.) Could there be an easier and classier way to show your support? As far as identifiers go, this is right up there with the Suffragette’s “Votes for Women” Sash. And its much more subtle than the Guy Fawkes masks the Occupiers are fond of.
When it comes to actual protest gear, however, it’s up to the individual. We’ve noticed everything from short shorts to floaty florals (the students couldn’t have picked a nicer day for a march!) to basic black hoodies, but the one constant piece that everyone seemed to be wearing was red.
photos are from the Gazette and la Presse