Anti-mask protest in Montreal draws large crowd, propelled by U.S. conspiracy theories

Several thousand people gathered Saturday in downtown Montreal to hear speeches from conspiracy theorists and anti-vaccine activists, in one of the largest demonstrations to date against the Quebec government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The march began outside Premier Franois Legault's Montreal office, and at one point stretched more than sixcity blocks. It attracted people of all ages, and from a wide-variety of mindsets.

Hare Krishnas marched alongside Christian fundamentalists and supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump. Others held signsabout the 5G internet network, or perceived corruption atthe United Nations.

"I decided to come today to say 'enough,'" said Montrealer Andre David, 75. "We've been manipulated enough."

The most popularsymbolsat the protest be it on t-shirts,placards orflags belonged to QAnon, a far-right conspiracy theory started in the United Statesthat claims a satanic, pedophile cabal secretly controls the U.S. government, if not the entire world.

QAnon was labelledas anational security risk by the FBI in 2019 after individuals began committing acts of violence based on the mistaken belief the theory is true.

The march on Saturdayculminated in a denselypacked rally outside the Radio-Canada building. Speakersaccused the government of over-reacting to the threat of COVID-19and lying about the dangerof the disease, whichhas killed nearly 5,800 in Quebec.Behind the stage, two men waved largeQAnon flags.

"I accuse public health [officials] of manipulating the numbers since the beginning of the pandemic to justify bringing our economy to a halt," Jean-Jacques Crvecur, an anti-vaccine activist well-known in Europe,told the crowd.

Other speakers included Stphane Blais, who believesthe pandemic is part of an "international coup" andLucie Laurier, an actress best known for her minor rolesin the Bon Cop/Bad Cop films. Shehas become the most recognizable spokesperson of Quebec's anti-mask movement.

WATCH |Anti-mask protesters march in Montreal:

Anti-mask protesters march in Montreal

4 years ago

Duration 1:00

The march began outside Quebec Premier Franois Legaults office near the McGill University campus, and wound through the streets.

Quebec struggles to curb infections

Saturday's rally coincided with new police powers coming into effect in the province, which allowofficers to fine people for refusing to wear masks inside public buildings.

It is among several small, targeted measures that the Legault government introduced last week in an effort to check yet another rise in COVID-19 infections.

After a period of several weeks where daily new cases in the province were around or below 100, the number of new cases began to rise in late August. On Saturday, 244 new cases were reported, the most since June 4.

Genevive Guilbault, Quebec's deputy premier, urged the demonstrators to follow as many public-health guidelines as possibledespite their opposition to them.

"When outside, we ask people to stay two metres apart, and when that isn't possible, to wear a mask,"Guilbault told Radio-Canada Saturday afternoon.

"I understand it's an anti-mask demonstration, but the rules are for everyone, so we ask people to obey them."

Little respect for health guidelines

But many in the protest openly flouted the distancing guidelines. One man, wearing a leopard-print costume, offered "free hugs" to other participants.

A 26-year-old man who travelled from the remote northern Quebec region of Abitibi-Tmiscaminguesaid he refuses to wear the mask indoors because he is convinceda court will overturn any fine he receives.

"All humanity is in danger if we blindly obey these excessive rules," said another woman.

Few who took part in the march were willing to be interviewed on the record, and those who did expressed open disdain for mainstream media outlets.

Marie-Jose Bernard, a Montrealer and mother of three, said she preferred getting her news froma website run by a well-knownQAnonadvocate in Quebec.

She said she followed government guidelines closely in the spring, but has since stopped listening to news conferences and does her own research about the disease instead.

"The threat is over," Bernard said. "NowI'm worried about my liberties."