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MONTREAL — Riot police moved in during a Quebec City protest Monday night and arrested 84 people. Among those detained was Philippe Lapointe, chief negotiator for hardline student group CLASSE.

Also among those arrested was a protest mascot in a banana costume who waved to the applauding crowd as he was dragged away by two officers.

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As police surrounded and began arresting protesters, Léo Bureau-Blouin, president of the Fédération étudiante collégiale du Québec, urged the crowd to disperse and avoid arrest.

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“I spoke to police officers and they said I could come over here and talk to you,” he told protesters. “We want to avoid arrests. We want to avoid things deteriorating.” He added that police had told him no one else would be arrested if the group dispersed peacefully.

‘I’m asking you not to let your emotions get the better of you. We want to end resolve this conflict’

“We are in negotiations with the government and we all know the atmosphere is fragile. I’m asking you not to let your emotions get the better of you. We want to end resolve this conflict. We don’t want things to get worse.”