October 23 Montréal Two thousand […]

Graph

When

1977-10-23

Description

October 23 Montréal Two thousand people demonstrated in downtown Montréal to protest the police raid on the Truxx and Mystique bars. The riot-like protest blocked one of the main intersections in downtown Montréal (at Stanley and St. Catherine Streets) and was the largest and most militant gay demonstration held in Canada to that time. The spontaneous protest was organized in less than six hours by ADGQ, by distributing 4,000 leaflets in all gay bars and clubs in the city. Policemen on motorcycles (with sidecars) attacked the crowd, attempting to clear the street by driving into the crowd at high speeds. Several demonstrators were run down, others were hit in indiscriminate billy-club attacks. The demonstrators retaliated by throwing bottles and glasses at the passing motorcycles and policemen, and by singing and dancing in the streets. The demonstrations were widely covered in local radio, television, and print media. In the weeks following the raid, police continued to intimidate the gay community by entering other clubs and discos, including Le Jardin, Lime Light, the Lincoln, and the Truxx bar again.

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October 22 Montréal More than fifty […]

All Places

The Lincoln Lime Light Disco Le Jardin Disco Canada Rue Stanley and Rue St. Catherine Le Mystique Truxx Montreal

All Organizations

The Comité homosexuel anti-repression/Gay Coalition against Repression CHAR GCAR, Association pour les droits des gai(e)s du Québec ADGQ, L’association pour les droits de la communauté gaie du Québec ADGQ Service de police de la Ville de Montreal/Montreal Police Service

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Graph Legend

Lime Light Disco

Bar

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All Locations