CBC: Activists topple statue of Sir John A. Macdonald in downtown Montreal
'We must fight racism, but destroying parts of our history is not the solution,' says Quebec premier
A group of activists toppled a statue of Sir John A. Macdonald in Place du Canada in downtown Montreal on Saturday afternoon in the aftermath of a protest calling for the defunding of the police force.
A handful of people climbed the monument, tied ropes around the statue and held up banners before unbolting it and pulling it down. The falling statue's trajectory caused the head to fly off and bounce onto the cobblestones below. A video posted to social media captured the moment.
The incident took place following a peaceful march through downtown Montreal, one of several demonstrations held across Canada organized by a coalition of Black and Indigenous activists.
It was not clear what affiliation, if any, those who pulled down the statue had with the march. The falling statue appeared to catch other demonstrators, organizers and police by surprise. A march organizer, contacted by CBC Montreal, declined to comment.
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WNU Editor: Yesterday I had planned to catch up on my chores around the house and to do some personal shopping. Got a call around lunch time from a friend who owns a store in downtown Montreal. He was desperate, and he wanted to know if I could come over right now with my power tools to put up some boards to his windows. He was told there was going to be a BLM-Defund the Police demonstration a few blocks away from his store, and he knows what everyone else knows in Montreal .... these protests always end up as a riot. I was at his store within the hour, dumped my tools so that he and some of his friends could board up the store, and drove my car far away so that it would not be damaged if the riot ends up near my friend's store. As I was walking back I came across the demonstration/protest. They were walking to the center of Montreal to a park where the statue of Canada's first Prime Minster and other historical figures are located. This demonstration was anything but peaceful as the above CBC report is claiming. I know because I saw what they were doing when they were marching by. Keying cars. Breaking a window here or there. Intimidating and threatening all those who stood in their way. The Police were there but did nothing. You could tell that they were told to stand-down. My gut tells me that it was the mayor who told them to do nothing. The crowd was a mixture of different ethnicities, but the language spoken was primarily English (French is the dominant language in the city). It was only later that I learned that the statue of Sir John A.Macdonald was torn down. The rioters did not approach the store where my friend is located. Bottom line. I learned only one thing from yesterday, and that is that you cannot reason with these people.
Update: As of this writing the leaders of Montreal, Quebec, and across Canada have all spoken as one to condemn this destruction and violence. There is only one leader who has said nothing. Prime Minister Trudeau.
More News On The Statue Of Canada's First Prime Minister Being Toppled Down In Montreal
Statue of John A. Macdonald toppled during defund the police protest -- CTV News
‘Defund the police’ rallies held across Canada; protesters topple John A. Macdonald statue -- Global News
Protesters in Montreal topple John A. Macdonald statue, demand police defunding -- National Post/Canadian Press
Statue of Canada's first prime minister toppled by protesters demanding police defunding -- Reuters
Canada statue of John A Macdonald toppled by activists in Montreal -- The Guardian
Video: Protesters Topple Statue of Canadian First PM in Montreal, Call For Police Defunding -- Sputnik
