Montreal students protest cuts in downtown march
March part of 2 weeks of planned demonstrations and activities
More than 1,000 people marched through downtown Montreal on Friday night in the latest demonstration against the Quebec government's cutbacks.
Protesters also chanted slogans denouncing oil companies.
The protest was organized by a group at Cégep du Vieux-Montréal, where many students were boycotting class this week.
Police originally said the march would be allowed to proceed, but later declared it illegal, saying the protest route wasn't provided beforehand.
Thousands of protesters marching through downtown Mtl. Heavy police presence. Has been declared illegal. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbcmtl?src=hash">#cbcmtl</a> <a href="http://t.co/31BhvhhNHs">pic.twitter.com/31BhvhhNHs</a>
—@tanyabirkbeckOfficers were seen using pepper spray and tear gas as they ordered protesters to disperse. At least one person was arrested.
By about 10:30 p.m. most of the protesters had been cleared out of downtown, police said.
The march was part of two weeks of planned strikes and demonstrations, beginning last Monday, against what the students describe as the province's heavy-handed austerity measures.