Student protesters upped their angry rhetoric over tuition hikes Thursday when they staged a mock hanging and burned down an effigy of Quebec Premier Jean Charest.
Police also said at least two patrol cars were vandalized as well as some city buses. Three women were arrested for the graffiti.
Street demonstrations saw some protesters dressed in colourful masquerade costumes as students blocked some of Montreal's downtown core Thursday.
Thursday's demonstration began with the crowd infiltrating Montreal's main courthouse, as a number of protesters arrested several weeks ago in an unruly demonstration were reportedly about to be arraigned. The courthouse was back in business by early afternoon.
Another group of 200 student protesters briefly occupied the lobby of a National Bank office in the city's financial district.
The protesters then began four separate marches towards Montreal's downtown core, clogging up traffic.
Joining the protesters was a group of teachers who support the fight against planned tuition hikes by the province's Liberal government.
"You cannot expect people to begin a career . . . without some recognition that $20,000, $30,000 or $40,000 (debt) will prevent them from doing all kinds of things that are of benefit to society," one teacher told CTV Montreal.
Several recent demonstrations have resulted in conflict with police, ending in dozens of arrests. Students are planning another major rally on Friday when Charest visits the Gaspe region to promote his northern development plan.
The Quebec government has refused to back down from its planned tuition hike of $325 over the next five years that amounts to a 75 per cent increase.
Education Minister Line Beauchamp said she would sit down to negotiate with student leaders but only if they drop some key demands – such as a tuition freeze.
"There's always openness to talk about the loans and bursaries program," Beauchamp told reporters Thursday.
"(But) their position is intransigent. Their reaction is always the same -- it's either a freeze (they want) or free diplomas. You can see that's untenable."
Tuition rates will increase to $3,793 from $2,168, a figure the province argues is among the lowest in Canada. The government has also warned students to return to class or risk losing their semester.
About 130,000 students have walked out of their classrooms arguing that "cheap" education is key to an equal society.
Recent protests have blocked bridges, government buildings, the office of the Quebec Liberal party and there was even a protest outside Premier Jean Charest's home.
