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The talks were the third in the negotiation process for the FTAA. 34 heads of state and government met in Quebec City, representing all the countries of North and South America except Cuba. Partially due to resistance from the leaders of some poorer countries, no deal was reached in Quebec City.
From the beginning, the authorities indicated their intent to use very intensive security measures to restrict the ability of anti-globalization movement protesters to approach the area where the summit took place, in light of the well-known previous incidents in Seattle ( November 30, 1999), Prague ( September 26, 2000), and Montreal ( November 20November 20 is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 41 days remaining. Events 1272 Following Henry III of England's death on November 16, his son Prince Edward becomes King of England. 1407 A solemn truce be, 2000).
The most controversial of the preparations that took place was the construction of a 3-metre high security fence of concrete and wire around a large section of the downtown, including the meeting site, the National Assembly, and many residences. Only residents, delegates to the summit, and certain accredited journalists were allowed inside. Businesses and churches within the area were not permitted to open.
Security services were provided by the RCMP, with the collaboration of the Canadian Armed ForcesCanadian Forces Flag The Canadian Armed Forces (fr. Forces armees canadiennes , also referred to as the Canadian Forces or CF (fr. Forces canadiennes or FC , refers to the combined branches of the military forces of Canada, these being Canada's army, navy and CSISThe letters CSIS can stand for several things. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service is responsible for the intelligence operations of Canada. The Center for Strategic and International Studies is a bipartisan think tank in the United States..
The Quebec City protests (called A20) were one of the largest anti-globalization demonstrations to that point, attracting some 20,000 protesters from all across the Americas. Groups represented at the protest included trade unions, civil society groups such as GreenpeaceGreenpeace is an international environmental organization founded in Canada in 1971. Greenpeace has acquired a reputation for the dramatic use of nonviolent direct action in campaigns to stop atmospheric nuclear testing and to bring an end to high-seas wh and the Council of CanadiansThe Council of Canadians is a left-wing think tank in Canada. Politically to the left of the ruling Liberal Party of Canada, the group is strongly opposed to most forms of political co-operation with the United States, especially on matters such as free t, the New Democratic PartyThis page is about the Canadian political party. For other parties, see New Democratic Party (disambiguation). New Democratic Party Current Leader Jack Layton Founded June 17, 1961 Headquarters 300 279 Laurier Avenue West Ottawa, OntarioK1P 5J9 Colours Or and Parti QuébécoisParti Quebecois Current Leader Bernard Landry Founded October 11, 1968 Headquarters 1200 Papineau Avenue, bureau 150 Montreal, QuebecH2K 4R5(514) 526-0020 & 1-800-363-9531[mailto:info@pq. org info@pq. org] Colours Blue (also White & Red) Political ideolog caucuses, and a great many groups from universities and colleges across the hemisphere.
In addition to the political focuses of the anti-globalization movement, many focused their attention on the division of the city with the security barrier and what they saw as the draconic nature of the police response.
Protesters began to arrive on Friday, April 20, many being hosted at Laval University, CEGEP campuses, and churches. A number of clashes with police took place on Friday evening, as did peaceful gatherings including a vegan supper and concert underneath the Dufferin-Montmorency Autoroute.
The primary day of protests was Saturday, April 21. It began with the Second Peoples' Summit of the Americas , an educational and political gathering near the Gare du Palais, in the lower city east of the summit site. From there, the protesters marched northwest along Boulevard Charest towards Rue de la Couronne.
Protests were divided into three classes: "green zone," being legal protests with no risk of arrest; "yellow zone," peaceful, unsanctioned protest with some risk of arrest or confrontation with police, and "red zone," being direct acts of civil disobedience carrying a high risk of arrest. This innovative division was developed after the protest in Montreal in November 2000, which though meant to be peaceful with a low risk of arrest had been violently dispersed by riot police on horseback. The zone system is meant to protect those who do not wish to run the risk of arrest or of clashes with police.
At Rue de la Couronne, the protest march split, with the majority of protesters (the green zone) heading north, towards a main rally at the Colisée.
Protesters favouring the yellow or red zones headed south, towards Cap Diamant. Many spread out through the Saint-Jean Baptiste area north of and below the fence; others marched along the edge of the mountain on Côte d'Abraham towards its intersection with the Dufferin-Montmorency Autoroute, through which the fence passed. Peaceful protesters, including individuals running speaker's corners, were in great numbers throughout this area during the afternoon.
Police responded to the protests by firing tear gas canisters, water cannon, and rubber bullets, dispersing large groupings of protesters both violent and peaceful, including teach-ins and teams of medics helping the wounded. Other tactical interventions aimed at arresting various perceived movement leaders and the expulsion of the independent media centre and protest clinic from their locations. So much tear gas was used that delegates were incommoded inside their meeting halls. The security wall was breached on several occasions, though protester incursion across the perimeter was limited.
Protests continued into the night. In addition to continued peaceful protests and acts of civil disobedience, some protesters vandalized storefronts and advertisements and built bonfires. Police continued to respond with tear gas, in several cases firing at areas beneath the mountain where no protests were taking place, as well as with direct assaults on protester positions.
Protests concluded on Sunday, April 22.