A new kind of protest is taking place in Montreal — Casseroles Night.
The Casseroles is a new movement where supporters bang pots and pans throughout their neighbourhoods each night. They sprouted up following the introduction of Bill 78, according to organizers.
At first it was a lonely clanging through the streets, but it had a “Pied Piper effect,” said Ethan Cox, a journalist and spokesperson for the Casseroles.
People came out on to their balconies banging wooden spoons and kitchen utensils against their steel pots, he said. Others would come out of their houses and thousands would join the groups in the street. A record 400,000 people flooded the streets for the Casseroles May 22 for what Cox said has been the largest demonstration so far.
The Quebec student protests have been going on for more than 100 days but from these protests a different movement has been born. Although some Casseroles protests are in solidarity with the students, the main issue many are adamantly opposed to is the introduction of Bill 78, according to organizers.
The bill was introduced by the Quebec provincial government May 18. Bill 78 is aimed at reforming protests by requiring groups to report their route well in advance or face fines for student unions of up to $125,000, according to organizers.
The Casseroles started in Quebec City and took off in Montreal, spreading across Canada and internationally, Cox said. He has been covering the protests for rabble.ca but decided to take a stance and help the movement by connecting protestors across the world. He said he hopes that “Casseroles night” will become a weekly affair.
These peaceful protests have a certain appeal because they are reaching out to people who might not have come out in the streets otherwise, he said.
Unlike the student protests, the Casseroles follow trails through small side streets, according to the organizers. At 8 p.m. on the dot every night, Montrealers can expect the banging of pots and pans.
Rachelle Mega, a protestor but not a student herself, said she was the only one on her street and had to walk for three blocks before finding others. She said she was pleased to run into her neighbours and meet people in her neighbourhood downtown, most of which weren’t students.
“I’m actually on the fence on the tuition hike protests but I’m absolutely against bill 78,” she said as she banged a wooden spoon against her pot along with 20 other people.
“By passing this bill he pissed off twice as many people were pissed off before so now I think everyone is with the students,” she said.
There has been widespread support all across Montreal with protests sprouting up in unassuming neighbourhoods, Cox said.
However Mega said she feels there is much more support in certain areas with a higher francophone population.
She said she has one message for everyone, no matter what divisions there might be.
“Stand up, let’s continue to make noise!”
