Montreal to Protest Against Police Brutality at St Patrick’s Day

A protest against police brutality will be held in Montreal on March 22 during the city's St. Patrick's Day parade.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – A Montreal protest against police brutality will take place on March 22, the day of the city's St. Patrick's Day parade, as the march planned for Sunday was declared illegal over the organizers' failure to inform the authorities of its route.

"We decided to hold an event at the same time as the parade of St. Patrick to denounce the fact that we no longer have the right to protest in Montreal. People who are going to participate or attend the parade have nothing to fear from us, but perhaps should be wary of police officers who are known to be armed and dangerous to the people," Collective Opposed to Police Brutality (COBP) said on its official website.

A COBP march held on Sunday was declared illegal as soon as it began, because the organizer did not provide the authorities with information on the route of the march, which is required by law.

Local media reported that about 100 fines were given out and one arrest was made during the Sunday march, which started on Sunday afternoon on the spot where a homeless man was shot and killed by Montreal police in February, 2014.

Annual protests against police brutality, organized by COBT, have been held in Montreal for almost 20 years. Last year's march resulted in 288 fines and five arrests. In 2013, police arrested 200 demonstrators.