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In the end, most of the protesters in St-Lambert left quietly.

Activists at the blockade on the CN Rail tracks had begun to peacefully dismantle their camp Friday evening when tensions ratcheted up with the arrival of new demonstrators, who began chanting anti-police slogans.

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More than 50 demonstrators gathered around 9 p.m. to support the protesters who had camped there since Wednesday.

“To all those who care about Aboriginal ancestral sovereignties, we must act now. Answer the call of the hereditary chiefs. Block by all means bridges, ports, roads and rails,” the protesters said in a press briefing at about 10 p.m., before leaving the blockade.

Faced with a large deployment of riot police, the protesters had started packing up at around 7:30 p.m. They carried equipment such as sleeping bags, pots, propane tanks and a wood stove to the perimeter erected by Longueuil police.

However, the situation became tense between the newcomers and police. Dozens of protesters started chanting slogans such as: “Everyone hates the police.”