Monument to Victims of the October Crisis - Montreal, QC, Canada
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 45° 30.676 W 073° 34.188
18T E 611714 N 5040743
Monument to Victims of the October Crisis is located outside the headquarters of the Societe St. Jean Baptiste at 82 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest, Montreal, QC, Canada
Waymark Code: WMQ8FR
Location: Québec, Canada
Date Posted: 01/09/2016
Views: 15
The kidnapping of James Cross, the British trade commissioner in Montreal, by the Front de liberation du Québec and the subsequent murder of the Quebec labor minister Pierre Laporte precipitated the first peace-time use of the War Measures Act by the Canadian Parliament. This led to largest mass arrest in Canadian history as hundreds of separatists were arrested and imprisoned. These events became known as the October Crisis.
The Societe St. Jean Baptiste commissioned the erection of the monument "Freedom" to honor all those that were arrested during the October Crisis. The monument is installed in front of the entrance to their headquarters.
A bronze plaque at the base of the sculpture is inscribed:
Vive la liberté
Ici sont nommés un à un, dans un égal souci de reconnaissance de leur engagement
dans la lutte pour la libération nationale du peuple québécois,
un grand nombre de celles et ceux qui furent arbitrairement arrêtés et emprisonnés
en vertu de la Loi sur les mesures de guerre proclamée, le 16 octobre 1970
par le Parlement canadien. Les noms de centaines d'autres prisonniers d'opinion
de ce qu'on a appelé la Crise d'octobre n'ont jamais été révélés.
Le coup de force visant à briser l'élan du peuple n'a pas atteint son objectif.
Depuis, les Québécoises et Québécois continuent la lutte pour l'indépendance
et la continueront jusqu'a la victoire finale. L'historie leur renda justice.
Long live freedom
Here are listed, one by one, in an equal concern for recognition of their commitment
in the struggle for national liberation of the Quebec people,
many of those who were arbitrarily arrested and detained
under the Act proclaimed the War Measures October 16, 1970
by the Canadian Parliament . The names of hundreds of other prisoners of conscience
of what was called the October Crisis were never revealed.
The coup aimed at breaking the momentum of the people has not reached its goal.
Since then, Quebecers continue the struggle for independence
and will continue until the final victory. History will render them justice.
A brass plate on the base of the sculpture identifies the sculptor and designer. It is inscribed:
La sculpture "Liberté" est l'oeuvre de Marcel Barbeau et le monument est une conception de Germain Bataille
The sculpture "Freedom" is the work of Marcel Barbeau and the monument is a design Germain Bataille