Protesters Egg Soldiers, Shout Cultural Genocide

Montreal's historic Black Watch armoury was the scene of an anti-monarchist demonstration last night, and as protesters got out of control police had to call in the riot squad to calm the angry crowd. Three arrests were made before everything was over.

Although it would seem that most of the people who turned out were just looking for publicity for their cause, and to throw a monkey wrench into plans for special ceremonies inside the armoury that evening, some got out of control not long before the expected arrival of Prince Charles and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall. One of the angry crowd members called out to say the demonstrators would show soldiers guarding the armoury, "how Québecois fight." ("Charles forcé d'entrer par la petite porte") A handful of people then advanced on the armoury, throwing eggs at the building. By some accounts, soldiers may have been hit by the eggs.

Brian Myles, writing in the newspaper Le Devoir, was quick to point out that these soldiers are recently arrived home from Afghanistan and have faced a lot worse than a few eggs. Prince Charles similarly made light of the fracas in his speech to the Regiment, apologizing for his late arrival and referring to the incident as a "little local disturbance." ("Protesters stall royals in Montreal")

Black Watch: A Proud History in Canada

The Black Watch traces its roots back to 1862, when concerns over the rise of American military strength at the end of that country's Civil War prompted the formation of militia regiments in British North America. Six Montreal Scottish chieftains each raised an infantry company to help patrol the border. Those militia members later fought in the Boer War, both World Wars and the Korean War, and contributed to NATO and UN missions worldwide. Most recently, they have given aid to the populations of Quebec and Ontario during the ice storm of 1998, and have served in the Afghanistan where Cpl. Jason Patrick Warren was killed in the field in 2008. ("Protesters stall royals in Montreal")

Today the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada maintains a militia and is also home to a cadet corps. With the assistance of the St. Andrews Society of Montreal, the corps offers a pipe and drum learners program and Highland Dance lessons. Montreal youth are thus able to maintain a strong connection with their history and to celebrate the traditions of a segment of the Quebec people who have done much towards making our city what it is today.

Prince Charles became Colonel in Chief of the Regiment after the death of the Queen Mother, and made his first visit to the province of Quebec since 1976 in large part to present the Regiment with new colours. He also took time after the ceremony to meet privately with the soldiers who have returned home from Afghanistan, and with the family of Corporal Warren.

Separatists Demand a Royal Apology, Call the Monarchy Obsolete

Weeks before the visit, separatist groups in Quebec announced that Prince Charles would only be welcome in Quebec if the monarchy would apologize for what it characterized as a cultural genocide of the French in North America. The Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste (SSJB) produced a laundry list of complaints against the British, reaching back to the expulsion of the Acadians in 1755 and coming forward to the repatriation of the Canadian Constitution in 1982, which they say was done without the consent of Quebec.

Ironically, the British preserved many elements of French culture in North America. These include Napoleonic Law, upon which the current Civil Code of Quebec is based, the Catholic religion which was protected by the British North America Act and later the Constitution, and the French language - one of two official languages in Canada today.

The demonstration was organized by members of the radical Réseau de Résistance du Québecois, (RRQ) who shouted anti-monarchist slogans and called the monarchy obsolete. Many of the 150 protesters brandished the flag of the 1837 Lower Canada Rebellion (la Guerre des Patriotes.) That rebellion played an important role in the establishment of responsible government in what was to become Canada, and means that our governments ever since have been accountable to the electorate rather than to the monarch.

Defending Democracy

Both the SSJB and the RRQ characterize Canada's constitutional monarchy as anti-democratic, despite the fact that RRQ president Patrick Bourgeois admits that the monarchy is mostly symbolic in Canada today. Veterans entering the armoury for the ceremony on the eve of Remembrance Day were somewhat troubled by the display, but were also quick to point out that it is because of their service to Canada that all of the country's citizens enjoy freedom of expression today. Master of Ceremonies, retired Major Michel Boire declared that the demonstrators had gathered to defend their right to freedom of speech, and that he was not at all intimidated by his fellow citizens. ("Charles forcé d'entrer par la petite porte")

The SSJB has been circulating pamphlets inviting people to attend last night's protest. The flip side deals with their outrage at a recent federal court ruling which will force Quebec to rewrite portions of its language laws that have been deemed unconstitutional. This is not the first time Quebec language laws have come under fire for violating human rights.

Sources:

"Arrests made as Prince Charles visits Montreal" Rene Bruemmer, David Johnston and David Akin (Montreal Gazette and Canwest News)

Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada web site

"Charles forcé d'entrer par la petite porte" Brian Myles (Le Devoir)

"Charles must apologize: Quebec sovereigntists" CBC News

"Prince Charles redirects gift to Canadian military families" Barry Burns (CJOB 68)

"Protests greet Royal visitors" The Gazette

"Protestors rally as royals visit Quebec" The Star

"Protesters stall royals in Montreal" CBC News

"Section Thirty-three of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms" Wikipedia