Montreal Rad Pride March Police Clash Sparks Tear Gas Chaos

Amélie Leclerc
4 Min Read

The streets of Montreal’s Gay Village transformed from celebration to confrontation yesterday as the annual Rad Pride march concluded with police using tear gas against some participants. What began as an alternative celebration of LGBTQ+ rights and protest against ongoing discrimination quickly escalated into chaos near Place Émilie-Gamelin.

As a journalist who has covered numerous Montreal demonstrations, I witnessed firsthand how the peaceful gathering of approximately 300 marchers shifted dramatically when a small group separated from the main crowd. According to eyewitness accounts, tensions heightened after some individuals began throwing objects at storefronts and spray-painting buildings along Sainte-Catherine Street.

“Most of us were simply marching for our rights and visibility,” explained Dominique Tremblay, a regular Rad Pride participant. “Then suddenly there was smoke everywhere and people were running.”

Montreal police spokesperson Jean Rousseau confirmed that officers deployed tear gas after repeated warnings were ignored. “When property damage began and a trash receptacle was set ablaze, we had to intervene for public safety,” Rousseau stated. The police reported three arrests for mischief and obstruction, though community organizers dispute this characterization of events.

The Rad Pride march has historically positioned itself as a more politically focused alternative to Montreal’s mainstream Pride celebrations, emphasizing ongoing struggles faced by marginalized members of the LGBTQ+ community, particularly those who are Indigenous, Black, or transgender.

Community organizer Sophie Dumont expressed frustration at how events unfolded. “Once again, the actions of a few individuals have overshadowed our message about the real discrimination many in our community still face daily,” she told me while helping participants affected by tear gas.

The incident highlights ongoing tensions between Montreal police and various protest movements. Just last month, I covered similar confrontations during housing rights demonstrations, where critics questioned police de-escalation tactics.

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante issued a statement this morning calling for calm while promising a review of police response. “We support the right to peaceful protest while maintaining our responsibility to protect public safety and property,” the statement read.

For many longtime residents, yesterday’s events echo Montreal’s complex history with public demonstrations. As someone who has documented our city’s social movements for over a decade, I’ve observed how quickly the line between expression and confrontation can blur.

Local business owners in the Village expressed mixed reactions. Café owner Michel Leblanc described the property damage as “disappointing” while acknowledging support for the movement’s core message. “We need to find better ways to communicate without destroying our neighborhood,” he said while sweeping broken glass this morning.

Community advocates are already planning a meeting with city officials to discuss what went wrong and how future marches might proceed without similar incidents. The discussion continues about finding the balance between effective protest and maintaining public order in our city’s vibrant but sometimes volatile political landscape.

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