Robert Libman: At last, anglos are standing up and speaking out

 Exactly 10 years ago, student protests demanding a freeze on university tuition took over Montreal streets in a movement that came to be known as the Maple Spring. Despite Quebec already having among the lowest tuition rates in the country, the protests gave voice and prominence to a cause. Whether or not one agreed with their protests, one could appreciate how the students mobilized and the impact they made.

Quebec’s Bill 96 has certainly generated as much serious concern, among as many people, as did the issues that gave rise to the Maple Spring movement. But minority communities in Quebec have always been reluctant to demonstrate.

As final adoption of the language-law overhaul approaches and its potential consequences become clearer, concern has been growing. The anglophone community finally seems willing to exit its comfort zone and take to the streets . A march from Dawson College to Premier François Legault’s office downtown is organized for Saturday morning. Last week, students at English CEGEPs around Quebec left class in a co-ordinated protest action to denounce the bill. The leaders of First Nations communities went to the National Assembly this week demanding to be exempt from Bill 96, saying it amounts to cultural genocide.

Robert Libman: At last, anglos are standing up and speaking out (msn.com)