Casseroles
I rarely go all political on you guys, but what’s happening in Quebec right now needs to be shared. I’m not the best to explain it — in short, students have been striking and protesting against a tuition hike for more than 100 days. To kill the conflict, the government passed Bill 78, a law that restricts freedom of assembly, protest, or picketing for anyone, not just students. To be for or against the tuition hike and the student protests is one thing, but that law violates fundamental freedoms of association, assembly, and expression and has been condemned as one of the worst bills ever passed.
To protest against it, citizens (and not just students!) have been marching in the streets hitting on pans and casseroles every evening, wearing the strike’s red square symbol. The atmosphere in these marches is joyful, festive and friendly. Even the biggest thunderstorm didn’t slow us down!
I’m sorry this comic isn’t as funny as usual, but I just had to pay the protests a little homage. It’s my own little way to show support. <3 For those interested, here is a very thorough article about the protests in the New York Times. Also, this video is absolutely beautiful and illustrates well the casserole marches!
[EDIT]
Someone posted an interesting comment about what Bill 78 also did, namely allowing students who want to study back into their schools without clashing with the protesters, and protecting the public by forcing the protesters into giving their itineraries to police in advance.
All I’m saying is this: I’m not trying to shift anyone’s opinion with this comic. I was mainly trying to let people know about the conflict and show support to the protesters. I have obviously sided with the left-wing people, but I don’t necessarily agree with all the protesters’ demands. But I feel there is a need to keep going. I do want this conflict to end more than anything, just not as it is now. There needs to be negotiations.
Feel free to share your opinions below! Not all of us are red, green, white or black.
Whoa, this sounds so unreal! I can’t believe they would just take those rights away like that! You keep on marching Boumie! =)
Well they didn’t take them away but… Still uncool.
Well, partly, sort of. Thank you <3
I really liked the comic today. Actually, thank you for going political. I wouldn’t have heard of this otherwise. I really hope that the bill AND the stupid tuition fee raise gets canceled, that is really awful, but the people look so cheerful both in your comic and the video you posted.
I hope you can spread the hope with this strip; the hope that things will eventually get better.
Thank you! It means a lot!
Wow ! C’est liberticide à souhait une telle loi. “Vous pouvez manifester, mais pas trop sinon faut demander notre permission.” lol, on dirait une caricature de dictature
Quelle idée originale de défiler avec des casseroles ! Peut-être que cela fera suffisamment de bruits pour réveiller les gens de là haut …
Bon courage à vous tous là bas !
L’idée des casseroles a été empruntée aux Chiliens, je crois, qui à un certain moment n’avaient plus le droit de manifester… alors ils tapaient de la casserole de leurs balcons.
Merci beaucoup :)
Tsss, c’est pas juste à Montréal que ça se passe, on est rendu plus de 1000 cosseroleux, juste dans mon quartier de Limoilou!
Fais pas ta montréalaise chauvine :P
Bon bon, je change ça! ;)
I may not agree with the student protests, however the draconian bill that was passed is anti-democratic and should be protested loudly. Good for the people of Quebec standing up to this.
Thank you!
J’ai montré l’article de NYTimes cette fin de semaine à mes parents – ça a changé leurs idées un peu …! C’est bien écrit et j’espère que ça fait penser d’autre monde – et on apprécie ça, des strips qui ne sont pas seulement humouristiques!
Là par contre, s’il te manque des idées humouristiques*, ça c’est une autre histoire – y’a l’autre jour, là, quand j’ai flushé mon cell …
*Évidemment je te taquine …
Haha, t’as flushé ton cell pour vrai?!
Yep.
It seems unreal this stuff is happening this day and age :C
Here in mexico strikes are rising too.
But for change to happen, we must protest.
Beautiful comic =3
Thank you! Don’t give up, either!
inb4, it doesnt matters where we live, goverments tends to do something stupid once in a while if not always, when the hell they will learn?….
:)
The law does two things, allows dissenting students the freedom to complete their semester without interference from the protesters; and asks protesters to notify the public of the route of their marches ( which is typical and in fact Quebec was extraordinary for not requiring it before).
Don’t just new lemming, read the law before commenting!!!
As a white square, you want the conflict to end, and I respect that and your opinion — and I want the conflict to end, too. I think, though, that most of Bill 78 is anti-democratic. I’ve read the law and I disagree. I hope you respect that too. But I should’ve have specified that upfront! Thanks!
I am not really surprised. In the US, we have the illusion of free speech and freedom of assembly.
You do not have free speech at school, in the military, in prison, or at work. That is a given.
So what is left?
Supposedly the public square is a safe zone, but when put to the test, we don’t have that either.
This web comic may be the last bastion of free speech left.
Great comic by the way. I started my own web comic after being inspired by yours.
http://bmancomic1.tumblr.com/
Thanks! I’m very flattered that you’d want to start a comic after reading mine :) Keep up the good work!
Well the phrase “Free Speech” implies the goverment can’t say anything, as define in the constotuion. If a citizen tells you to shut up or your sign a contract saying someone can tell you to shut up, you have to shut up or face the consquenses.
Vaisselle cassée pour la liberté d’expression!
So, it looked to me more like some kind of concert thing… I was trying to figure out how you went from the audience to being on stage with some other singer (spoon looked like a microphone), being applauded for rocking out so much that you broke your spoon.
This is my way of thanking you for posting descriptions with your comics.
Hahahahahahah well this would have rocked too!
this video made it look like a giant festival of pots and pans. looks fun.
About your edit:
Yes, it is state in the Bill that students you want to go to their classes mustn’t be blocked by protestors, but at the same time, that Bill is a kind of lock-out. The students who were still on strike when the Bill passed have their session suspended, meaning if we vote for or against the strike from now on until the end of August, it won’t change the fact that we cannot start back our classes before at least August 27th.
That line was mainly to assure that there wouldn’t be any more protests near the universities.
Forgot to say. I love the comic! It’s adorable, and true! XD
Merci :D
A democratic society wants to make education more accessible, not less accessible.
That’s all I have to say about tuition hikes.