Faubourg Saint-Jean-Baptiste neighbourhood: the intersection of Saint-Jean, d'Aiguillon and Turnbull streets
Québec City, Saturday, April 21st, 2001. The end of a beautiful Spring afternoon. We are coming back from the March of the Americas, a demonstration against the planned FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas) that reportedly brought together more than 50,000 people. The March ended far from downtown and we had to walk back. My friend and I are tired. We cross the Saint-Jean-Baptiste neighbourhood where the air stings the eyes, throat and lungs, saturated as it is with tear gas. Few cars on the streets, but many people walking or talking. Eyes run; many passersby are wearing scarves or t-shirts over their noses, in an effort to protect themselves from the gas. Incidently, the police tear-gassed Saint-Jean-Baptiste so much that the air became unbreathable. My sister, who has a four-year old daughter, had to flee her apartment for several days.