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MONTREAL - A weekend that brought Montreal's social unrest to theinternational stage ended Sunday with police clamping down on anattempt to disrupt the city's Grand Prix Formula One race. Anti-capitalists and students upset about tuition fee increasesheld demonstrations throughout the four-day event, marking thearrival of the world's premier auto racing series. The protestsgave visitors a taste of the dramatic scenes sometimes joyful,sometimes violent that locals have been witness to for months. Many of those scenes played out just steps away from a huge,non-stop party on Crescent Street for the race-car festivities,considered the biggest annual tourist event in Canada. Every night, a group of students and anti-capitalists descended onthe popular night-club strip to protest against the event. Onseveral occasions there were violent clashes between protesters andriot police, with tourists caught in the middle. "It's been a tough one this year," Grand Prix promoter FrancoisDumontier told reporters following the race. "I think we had a good weekend overall here, we weren't perturbeddespite all threats, people had no trouble getting onto the site,and the warm temperature helped our attendance." Dumontier admitted ticket sales to the race, which pumps about $100million into the local economy, were down by five or six per cent. Protesters also sent a clear message late Sunday that while theGrand Prix may be over, their nightly demonstrations will continue. Several hundred marched in a downtown demonstration that almostimmediately was declared illegal. Some windows were smashed, notably those at the offices of theCaisse de depot pension manager and at the National Bank. A police cruiser was also damaged and police said they made 12arrests nine for bylaw infractions and three for allegedcriminal offences, including assault. It was the 48th consecutive night that protesters gathered inMontreal. In recent weeks, crowd sizes had waxed and waned as protestersgeared up to make an impact at the Grand Prix. There were no major incidents on Sunday despite much-discussedplans by an anti-capitalist group to disrupt the subway line, whichshuttled thousands of fans to Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. Leading up to the race officers were posted at stations throughoutthe subway system, with sniffer dogs and lines of police at thestation near the track. Police said 34 people were arrested and 40more were forced from the off-shore island, Ile Ste-Helene, whichis adjacent to Ile Notre Dame where the race was held. As the tumultuous Grand Prix weekend wrapped up, Quebec FinanceMinister Raymond Bachand hinted not for the first time thatthe students' dispute would soon be settled at the ballot box. "I think the people of Quebec want to settle this issue and theywant to talk, they're scared to talk," said Bachand, the architectbehind Quebec's increasing reliance on the user-fee model and theauthor of the student tuition fees written into the 2011 budget. "But in a democracy, you have one major right you can do silently you can vote." Those comments renewed speculation Premier Jean Charest could callan early fall election, but Bachand wouldn't speculate on a date.The premier didn't attend the Grand Prix. Meanwhile, Montreal police were criticized for searches and arreststhat the force called "a preventive measure." The powerful studentgroup CLASSE was planning a news conference Monday to denouncepolice actions in recent protests. Several people, many of them wearing red squares the emblem ofthe student movement were seen being forcibly escorted away fromthe race grounds and back onto the subway by police. One young woman in tears said she was planning to get her ticketwhen she met up with a friend in front of the track. The woman, whohad dyed red hair, accused the police of "profiling." A CanadianPress reporter who didn't have a Grand Prix ticket was also forcedback on the subway. "Some of those arrested were people police recognized from earlierstudent demonstrations that had been deemed illegal," said Montrealpolice district commander Alain Simoneau. "In the interest of public safety, we decided to detain thesepeople." Masks, rocks and knives were among the objects seized by thosearrested. Most of those arrested will be released without charge,while others arrested in neighbouring suburbs could be charged,Simoneau said. An Ottawa man headed to the race said he felt the police had anobligation to ensure the event went off smoothly. While he supportsthe right to protest, Ali Fadelalla said disrupting the transitsystem was out of line. "It should be a peaceful event," Fadelalla said. "Lots of tourists come from all over the world. If people start todisrupt the race it's not good for the country or the province." The anti-capitalist group organizing Sunday's protest had suggestedpacking the subway with as many people as possible, making itdifficult for fans to get to the race. "We're all going to the Grand Prix ... AT THE SAME TIME!' said aposting on the group's website. The subway protest was also promoted on the student group CLASSE'swebsite calendar. "Don't get aboard the trains until you receive the signal,' thepost says. That signal appears to have been a fire alarm set off on the subwayline Sunday morning. Several people were removed from the metrofollowing that incident. The subway system has been a target before. A group is facingcharges for setting off smoke bombs in the subway last month. A taxi driver could be among those facing charges after Saturdaynight's clashes. Police said he got out of his cab to argue with acrowd of protesters and his vehicle rolled down a hill, injuringthree people before the 22-year-old driver fled the scene. - with files from Peter Rakobowchuk. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Scented Tealight Candles , China Glass Jar Candles for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Handmade Scented Candles.
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