Montreal police make 40 minute curfew stop on family walking home

Twitter / Yanky_Pollak

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Police in Montreal, Quebec continued to enforce the province's strict curfew over the weekend — in contrast to Ontario, where police were given enhanced powers of enforcement on Friday but virtually all local agencies declined to utilize them, leading to the government walking back some of the restrictions put in place.

Perhaps the most egregious enforcement of the curfew conducted by Montreal police this weekend involved a pair of families stopped while out for a walk.

A mom taking a walk with her kids turned into a "crime scene."

For @RebelNewsOnline in Montreal Quebec. https://t.co/9MjpXyZv28. pic.twitter.com/ZrmjfXidzK

— Yaakov Pollak (@Yanky_Pollak) April 18, 2021

Officers stopped a pair of mothers, who happened to be sisters, who were out with their children in violation of the city's 8:00 p.m. curfew. The families were returning home after observing the Jewish Sabbath.

"It's the curfew go home."

For @RebelNewsOnline in Montreal, Quebec. https://t.co/mVEgyLZtvS for more. pic.twitter.com/3tfjh0hL49

— Yaakov Pollak (@Yanky_Pollak) April 19, 2021

It is not uncommon for police to patrol Jewish neighbourhoods, where religious obligations mean a large number of those in the community are more likely to be out later in the evening.

In this instance, police held the two mothers and their children up for 40 minutes on a chilly evening. It was unclear to Montreal-based Rebel Yaakov Pollak, who has been documenting the police curfew enforcement, what the delay was. Officers regularly ask those on the streets for paperwork to prove that they have “valid reason” to be outdoors after the curfew.

After 40 minutes I had enough there were little kids there 1-2 years old the cops kept them up and kept saying next time don't be out during curfew.

For @RebelNewsOnline in Montreal, Quebec.

If you received a COVID related fine go to https://t.co/9MjpXyZv28 https://t.co/C9XRNKk5oP pic.twitter.com/2umbm2r5wV

— Yaakov Pollak (@Yanky_Pollak) April 18, 2021

.@SPVM follow the tyrannical orders or will make little kids freeze.

For @RebelNewsOnline in Montreal Quebec. https://t.co/mVEgyLZtvS for more. pic.twitter.com/F70PFs7Uf3

— Yaakov Pollak (@Yanky_Pollak) April 18, 2021

“Respect the curfew,” one officer told Pollak after he suggested the officers quit wasting time and issue tickets if that's what they were going to do.

“Respect human beings,” Pollak replied.

Pollak, no stranger to curfew violation tickets, is well-aware that these fines can be dished out in mere minutes should the officers feel that the situation merits a charge.

Protests against the restrictions are still a regular occurrence in Montreal, despite previous efforts by police to clamp down on the demonstrations.