Montreal anti-Trump demonstration ends in vandalism - Action News
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Montreal

Montreal anti-Trump demonstration ends in vandalism

Four windows were smashed and another 8 painted with graffiti in downtown Montreal Friday evening as an anti-Donald Trump demonstration was coming to an end.

4 windows smashed, another 8 vandalized with graffiti

Some protesters smashed the window of a police station in downtown Montreal during an anti-Trump protest. (Radio-Canada)

Fourwindows were smashed and another eightpainted with graffiti in downtown Montreal Friday evening as an anti-Donald Trump demonstration was coming to an end.

The vandalism happened about an hour and a half after the event kicked off.

At 6 p.m., more than 100 people gathered inPhillips Square to take part in the second protest of the day after Trump was sworn in as the 45thpresident of the United States.

The evening protest,entitled "Anti-Trump Night Demo: Make Racists Afraid Again!" was organized by theAnti-Racist Resistance Collective of Montreal and the Resist Trump Network.

The rally itself was peaceful until7:30 p.m. when the crowd began to disperse.

That's when property was vandalized. The window ofpolice Station 20, locatedonSte-CatherineStreet near Bishop Street, was smashed.

Near the same intersection, two storefront windows of anAmerican Apparel store were also shattered.

Police said that protesters damaged an additional eight windows with graffiti. The window of a car parked on the street was also damaged.

No arrests were made.

Dozens gather at morning protest

Another protest was held this morning,just moments before Trump's inauguration.

Dozens gathered in downtown Montreal Friday morning, moments before Donald Trump was sworn is as the 45th president of the United States. (CBC)

Several dozen protestersgathered at a demonstration called "Resist Trump!" to show their anger abouthis inauguration. The group assembled in theQuartierdes Spectacles and marched through downtown streets.

Some burned an Americanflag in front ofthe U.S. Consulate onRen-LvesqueBoulevardbefore moving inside ComplexeDesjardins, where the crowd dispersed.

Sarah DelSeronde, from Arizona, was marching with her son.

"[Trump] doesn't have values that I would want my son to learn. As an individual, he has very little respect for people who are not like him, and I think he will be awful," she said.

Avoid Saturday's march, U.S. consulate warns Americans

Another demonstration is planned for tomorrow. The Montreal Women's March is set to takeplace at 11 a.m.Saturday at the Place des Arts Esplanade.

It'spart of a movement that will see 300 other protests held in the U.S. and other countries in response to Trump's election.

The United States Consulatein Montreal is telling American citizens to avoid it.

In a message posted to the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Canada website on Thursday, the consulatein Montreal warns that "even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence."

Joan Sinclair, public affairs officer with theU.S. Consulate General Montreal, said the post is simply an informational message,not a warning, and it speaks for itself.

Montreal police said they knew of the consulate's message.

"We're aware of the situation," said Montreal police Const. Jean-Pierre Brabant. "We have officers who will be on site."