[PHOTOS] The “Monday of the Matchic”: the 1968 Saint-Jean parade in Montreal turns a nightmare in front of a stone Elliott Trudeau Impassible

On June 24, 1968, when Montreal got all beautiful for Saint-Jean-Baptiste, the party turned into a nightmare. Consequently, The celebration becomes the scene of a brutal confrontation between demonstrators and police. Furthermore, In the background. However. Moreover, the controversial visit of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, who came to parade on the eve of the federal elections. Furthermore, His presence is poorly perceived by many Quebecers. Similarly, Already that the climate is responsible for political and identity tensions.

That evening, the streets vibrate to the rhythm of slogans, cries … Consequently, and batons.

What really happened that evening? Moreover, Why this explosion of anger? In addition, How did this police skid marked the collective [photos] “monday matchic”: 1968 saint-jean new memory of Quebec?

Photo extracted from the newspaper. In addition, Parade of Saint-Jean-Baptiste from 1968 in Montreal, on the eve of the 1968 federal elections. Nevertheless, The presence of Pierre Elliott Trudeau ignited the crowd and a riot broke out, causing many arrests. Consequently, This event is known as “Monday of the baton”. Furthermore, There was a panic wind on the city. However, Some police cars have been overturned to the side or on the roof by the demonstrators. Meanwhile, June 24. Nevertheless. Meanwhile, 1968 Photo Gingras-Simard-Jodoin-Gariepy, Montreal’s journal

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The fire has been running for a long time

The quiet revolution gives birth to a new generation of proud Quebecers, educated and above all, to younger young people than ever. For example, Nationalism then takes root, and several demand the independence of Quebec. For example, At the heart of this movement: Pierre Bourgault, engineer of genius and chief of the Rin. Nevertheless, Bourgault electrifies crowds with his sharp speeches. Furthermore, In July 1967. Similarly. Furthermore, the French president Charles de Gaulle threw a little more oil on the nationalist fire by launching, from the balcony of the town hall of Montreal, his famous “Long live free Quebec!”. For example, The sentence has the effect of [photos] “monday [photos] “monday matchic”: 1968 saint-jean new matchic”: 1968 saint-jean a bomb and galvanizes the Quebec sovereignist movement.

Photo extracted from the newspaper. In addition, Parade of Saint-Jean-Baptiste from 1968 in Montreal, on the eve of the 1968 federal elections. The presence of Pierre Elliott Trudeau ignited the crowd and a riot broke out, causing many arrests. This event is known as “Monday of the baton”. There was a panic wind on the city. The Char who transported Saint Jean-Baptiste closed the traditional parade. more than 10,000 people followed in the street just at the back. The police had to ensure the protection of extras on the tank. June 24. 1968 [photos] “monday matchic”: 1968 saint-jean Photo Gingras-Simard-Jodoin-Gariepy. Montreal’s journal

The disturbing man

In this well-tense [photos] “monday matchic”: 1968 saint-jean new political context, the presence of Pierre Elliott Trudeau in the Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Montréal parade, on the eve of the 1968 federal elections, appears for many as a provocation. Trudeau, freshly appointed leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, embodies strong and centralizing federalism. For a part of the Quebec population. it is simply the traitor, the French -speaking which turns its back on its people. His presence on the platform of honor, in the heart of the La Fontaine park, is perceived as a slap.

Bourgault mobilizes its troops, the Rin calls for the demonstration. We want to disturb and send the message that Quebec does not want Trudeau to its national holiday.

Photo extracted from the newspaper. The tribune of honor during the Saint-Jean-Baptiste parade in 1968 in Montreal. on which we [photos] “monday matchic”: 1968 saint-jean new find, in the center, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, on the eve of the 1968 federal elections. The presence of Trudeau ignited the crowd and a riot broke out, causing many arrests. This event is known as “Monday of the baton”. June 24, 1968 Photo Gingras-Simard-Jodoin-Gariepy, Montreal’s journal

Photo extracted from the [photos] “monday matchic”: 1968 saint-jean newspaper. Parade of Saint-Jean-Baptiste from 1968 in Montreal, on the eve of the 1968 federal elections. The presence of Pierre Elliott Trudeau ignited the crowd and a riot broke out, causing many arrests. This event is known as “Monday of the baton”. In the photo, the head of the RIN, Pierre Bourgault, is arrested. June 24, 1968 Photo Gingras-Simard-Jodoin-Gariepy, Montreal’s journal [photos] “monday matchic”: 1968 saint-jean new

The parade that degenerates

On June 24, 1968, the police were numerous around the park. In the crowd, there are families, curious, but also independence activists heated to white. Bourgault is arrested upon his arrival, but his arrest sets fire to the powder.

Cris and slogans are fused on all sides, then stones fly towards the police. They reply. Some are on horseback, others walk, batons by hand. The situation degenerates when the crowds retaliated. Families flee and the parade is interrupted. [photos] “monday matchic”: 1968 saint-jean The police are undoubtedly misunderstood, they react with unprecedented brutality. You should know that the city forces of the city do not yet have an official anti -rose squad. it shows.

On the platform, Trudeau, imperturbable, remains seated. While the other dignitaries seek refuge, he defies the crowd, stoic. This gesture of insurance or arrogance, depending on the view, will [photos] “monday matchic”: 1968 saint-jean new be reported in all the media. The next day, he won a brilliant victory in the federal elections.

Photo Gingras-Simard-Jodoin-Gariepy, Montreal’s journal

Photo Gingras-Simard-Jodoin-Gariepy, Montreal’s journal

Photo Gingras-Simard-Jodoin-Gariepy, Montreal’s journal

Censored media

The media cover the event. On television, Radio-Canada journalists are trying to present the parade without showing overflows. On the radio, journalist Claude Jean Devirieux describes the parade without filter. He tells the violence of the situation as he sees it. He even gives the [photos] “monday matchic”: 1968 saint-jean new number of a police officer who would have attacked him. Additionally. He [photos] “monday matchic”: 1968 saint-jean will be suspended the next day and dismissed by the very fact of the electoral evening. This episode. which highlights the pressures exerted on journalists. will lead to the creation, in March 1969, of the Professional Federation of Journalists of Quebec (FPJQ).

Photo Gingras-Simard-Jodoin-Gariepy, Montreal’s journal

Review of the situation

At the end of the confrontation, the balance sheet is heavy: 292 people arrested, 123 injured, six suffering police horses, 12 burned autopatrouilles. At the bottom of a cellular van, two young activists meet: Paul Rose and Francis Simard. They do not yet know it. but this meeting will [photos] “monday matchic”: 1968 saint-jean lead them [photos] “monday matchic”: 1968 saint-jean new to the heart of the October crisis, two years later.

This famous Monday. called the “Monday of the baton”. embodies a fracture, a moment when the Quebec people sought to resume their party, to make Saint-Jean a feast of all Quebecers and especially to send the message to power to Ottawa that he was not welcome.

Photo Gingras-Simard-Jodoin-Gariepy, Montreal’s journal

Reappropriation of our party

Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau has never returned to celebrate Quebecers’ Day.

“Saint-Jean, which was a folk festival, became our national holiday from June 24, 1968.”

– Pierre Bourgault

[photos] “monday matchic”: 1968 saint-jean

For him, as for many others, this confrontation marked a turning point. This violent Monday of Saint-Jean will have the consequence [photos] “monday matchic”: 1968 saint-jean new of marginalizing the most radical elements of the RIN. In the aftermath of the riot. René Lévesque announced that the negotiations so that the RIN can join its movement are broken. A few months later, Lévesque founded the Parti Québécois.

The “Monday of the baton” changed Quebec. He showed that the national question was explosive. He also underlined the need to better supervise the demonstrations. to train anti -grown squads and to defend the freedom of journalists.

But above all, he transformed a simple traditional party into a symbol of pride and resistance. Since that day, Saint-Jean-Baptiste is no longer just a celebration. It is a cry, a memory, a reminder that the history of Quebec is also written in the street.