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As in years past, the annual march against police brutality was declared illegal and kettled in by riot cops minutes after it began. But unlike years past, no injuries, no broken windows, and only one arrest were reported.

About 100 protesters led by the Collective Opposed to Police Brutality (COBP) gathered at Berri and Ontario Sts., a symbolic location where Alain Magloire, a mentally ill homeless man, was fatally shot by police last year.

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Police easily outnumbered the marchers, who wanted to bring attention to what they see as increasing political repression and profiling by security forces. A police PA van announced they were allowed to protest in place, but not disrupt traffic, since organizers did not provide an itinerary as mandated by municipal bylaw P-6.

The group set forth westbound on Ontario St., anyway, and were quickly blocked by a line of shielded riot squad. Other squads blocked the east side of Ontario and southbound on Berri. The only open path was north through the Berri St. underpass. And when the group was fully within its concrete walls, two riot columns intercepted them on both sides, effectively walling them in.

No windows to smash, no cars to overturn.