Réseau de Résistance du Québécois
Encyclopedia
The Réseau de Résistance du Québécois (RRQ) (Québécois Network of Resistance) is a small fringe Quebec nationalist
group founded in 2007 that advocates Quebec sovereignty
. In 2008, the RRQ claimed a membership of 500 people. The RRQ have released a manifesto
, called "Manifeste du Réseau de Résistance du Québécois (RRQ)".
’s 400th anniversary celebrations of being revisionist
s.
On March 17, 2008, the RRQ protested at the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Montreal
. Members of the RRQ waved Quebec, Patriote and Irish flags. The RRQ also planned to distribute leaflets commemorating links between Irish Canadians and Quebecers, including the involvement of Irish
immigrants in the Patriote movement
of 1837 in Lower Canada
, as Quebec was known at the time. However, both the Mouvement Québec français
and the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society
of Montreal, two larger Québec nationalist groups, distanced themselves from the RRQ's protest.
In January 2009, the RRQ campaigned against the combat reenactment
of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham
. Montreal Gazette
's columnist Don MacPherson said that the RRQ used propaganda of the deed
combined with threats of violence and that played a major role in the cancellation of the reenactment. A spokesperson for the group, retired Quebec filmmaker Pierre Falardeau
stated that if the reenactment took place, "some people will get their asses kicked". The RRQ said that for visiting spectators the reenactment would offer "a trip they won't soon forget". Patrick Bourgeois, of the RRQ stated, "The re-enactment is off, that's great. This thing unleashed passions. But ultimately, the responsibility for all of this is the people who concocted this dim-witted plan. Sure, we were promoting civil disobedience. But so were they. The potential for violence was there.”
On June 23, 2009, Lake of Stew, an anglophone music group playing at the L'Autre St. Jean concert for the St. Jean Baptiste
festivities at Pelican Park
in Rosemont, Quebec, was heckled by members of the RRQ, but the heckling was met mostly with disdain by those in the audience and the band played on to cheers. Guillaume Duchesneau, a member of the RRQ, stated, "I don't think there should be two anglophone bands here. It's the patriotic celebration of Quebec started by a Quebec patriot, Ludger Duvernay
in 1834, and it's like an oppression seeing groups sing here in English." He said he noted a virtual absence of any Quebec flags, and said he wondered if a federalist group was organizing the party.
On September 13, 2009, events were held in Quebec to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham
. The RRQ attended a 24-hour reading marathon, called the Moulin à paroles, designed to promote Québec poetry
and literature
. However, the readings included the FLQ Manifesto
written by a member of the Front de libération du Québec
(FLQ), a terrorist organization. The FLQ was responsible for over 160 violent incidents which killed eight people and injured many more, including the bombing of the Montreal Stock Exchange in 1969, the kidnapping of the British Trade Commissioner James Cross
and the kidnapping and murder of Quebec Labour Minister Pierre Laporte
. Quebec Premier Jean Charest
stated that the reading "trivializes the FLQ, terrorism and violence" .
On November 10, 2009, the RRQ blocked the entrance to the Black Watch
military armory on Bleury Street in Montreal during a visit from Prince Charles
. The group of RRQ supporters said they were there to show their opposition to the British monarchy
.
Quebec nationalism
Quebec nationalism is a nationalist movement in the Canadian province of Quebec .-1534–1774:Canada was first a french colony. Jacques Cartier claimed it for France in 1534, and permanent French settlement began in 1608. It was part of New France, which constituted all French colonies in North America...
group founded in 2007 that advocates Quebec sovereignty
Quebec sovereignty movement
The Quebec sovereignty movement refers to both the political movement and the ideology of values, concepts and ideas that promote the secession of the province of Quebec from the rest of Canada...
. In 2008, the RRQ claimed a membership of 500 people. The RRQ have released a manifesto
Manifesto
A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related.-Etymology:...
, called "Manifeste du Réseau de Résistance du Québécois (RRQ)".
Protests & campaigns
In January 2008, the RRQ accused the organizers of Quebec CityQuebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
’s 400th anniversary celebrations of being revisionist
Revisionist history
Revisionist history carries both positive and negative connotations. Each has its own entry.*Historical revisionism, the reinterpretation of orthodox views on evidence, motivations, and decision-making processes surrounding a historical event...
s.
On March 17, 2008, the RRQ protested at the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. Members of the RRQ waved Quebec, Patriote and Irish flags. The RRQ also planned to distribute leaflets commemorating links between Irish Canadians and Quebecers, including the involvement of Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
immigrants in the Patriote movement
Lower Canada Rebellion
The Lower Canada Rebellion , commonly referred to as the Patriots' War by Quebeckers, is the name given to the armed conflict between the rebels of Lower Canada and the British colonial power of that province...
of 1837 in Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
, as Quebec was known at the time. However, both the Mouvement Québec français
Mouvement Québec français
Mouvement Québec français is an umbrella group of organizations in favour of the preservation and defense of the French language in Quebec, Canada.- History :...
and the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society
The Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society is an institution in Quebec dedicated to the protection of Quebec francophone interests and to the promotion of Quebec Sovereignism. Its current President is Mario Beaulieu....
of Montreal, two larger Québec nationalist groups, distanced themselves from the RRQ's protest.
In January 2009, the RRQ campaigned against the combat reenactment
Combat reenactment
Combat reenactment is a side of historical reenactment which aims to depict historical forms of combat. This may refer to either single combat, melees involving small groups, or nearly full-scale battles with hundreds of participants....
of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham
Battle of the Plains of Abraham
The Battle of the Plains of Abraham, also known as the Battle of Quebec, was a pivotal battle in the Seven Years' War...
. Montreal Gazette
The Gazette (Montreal)
The Gazette, often called the Montreal Gazette to avoid ambiguity, is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, with three other daily English newspapers all having shut down at different times during the second half of the 20th century.-History:In 1778,...
's columnist Don MacPherson said that the RRQ used propaganda of the deed
Propaganda of the deed
Propaganda of the deed is a concept that refers to specific political actions meant to be exemplary to others...
combined with threats of violence and that played a major role in the cancellation of the reenactment. A spokesperson for the group, retired Quebec filmmaker Pierre Falardeau
Pierre Falardeau
Pierre Falardeau was a Quebec film and documentary director, pamphleteer and noted activist for Quebec independence.-Profile:Falardeau studied anthropology at university and he taught that subject for a brief period...
stated that if the reenactment took place, "some people will get their asses kicked". The RRQ said that for visiting spectators the reenactment would offer "a trip they won't soon forget". Patrick Bourgeois, of the RRQ stated, "The re-enactment is off, that's great. This thing unleashed passions. But ultimately, the responsibility for all of this is the people who concocted this dim-witted plan. Sure, we were promoting civil disobedience. But so were they. The potential for violence was there.”
On June 23, 2009, Lake of Stew, an anglophone music group playing at the L'Autre St. Jean concert for the St. Jean Baptiste
St. Jean Baptiste
"St. Jean Baptiste" is French for John the Baptist. It is used in the names of some churches and places, and two other saints have names derived from him.*St. Jean-Baptiste de la Salle, the patron saint of teachers....
festivities at Pelican Park
Pelican Park
Jim Spooner Field is a stadium in Pensacola, Florida, USA that is primarily used for baseball, and is home field for the University of West Florida baseball team and was home to the Pensacola Pelicans. It opened in 1981 with a seating capacity of about 1,000 people. Over the years, that capacity...
in Rosemont, Quebec, was heckled by members of the RRQ, but the heckling was met mostly with disdain by those in the audience and the band played on to cheers. Guillaume Duchesneau, a member of the RRQ, stated, "I don't think there should be two anglophone bands here. It's the patriotic celebration of Quebec started by a Quebec patriot, Ludger Duvernay
Ludger Duvernay
Ludger Duvernay was born in Verchères, Quebec, Canada.He was a printer by profession and published a number of newspapers including the Gazette des Trois-Rivières, the first newspaper in Lower Canada outside of Quebec City and Montreal, and also La Minerve, which supported the Parti patriote and...
in 1834, and it's like an oppression seeing groups sing here in English." He said he noted a virtual absence of any Quebec flags, and said he wondered if a federalist group was organizing the party.
On September 13, 2009, events were held in Quebec to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham
Battle of the Plains of Abraham
The Battle of the Plains of Abraham, also known as the Battle of Quebec, was a pivotal battle in the Seven Years' War...
. The RRQ attended a 24-hour reading marathon, called the Moulin à paroles, designed to promote Québec poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
and literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
. However, the readings included the FLQ Manifesto
FLQ Manifesto
The FLQ Manifesto was a key document of the terrorist group the Front de libération du Québec. On 8 October 1970, during the October Crisis, it was broadcast by CBC/Radio-Canada television as one of many demands required for the release of kidnapped British Trade Commissioner James Cross.-External...
written by a member of the Front de libération du Québec
Front de libération du Québec
The Front de libération du Québec was a left-wing Quebecois nationalist and Marxist-Leninist paramilitary group in Quebec, Canada. It was active between 1963 and 1970, and was regarded as a terrorist organization for its violent methods of action...
(FLQ), a terrorist organization. The FLQ was responsible for over 160 violent incidents which killed eight people and injured many more, including the bombing of the Montreal Stock Exchange in 1969, the kidnapping of the British Trade Commissioner James Cross
James Cross
James Richard Cross, CMG was a British diplomat in Canada who was kidnapped by the Front de libération du Québec terrorist group during the October Crisis of October 1970....
and the kidnapping and murder of Quebec Labour Minister Pierre Laporte
Pierre Laporte
Pierre Laporte was a Canadian lawyer, journalist and politician who was the Deputy Premier and Minister of Labour of the province of Quebec before being kidnapped and killed by members of the group Front de libération du Québec during the October Crisis. Mr...
. Quebec Premier Jean Charest
Jean Charest
John James "Jean" Charest, PC, MNA is a Canadian politician who has been the 29th Premier of Quebec since 2003. He was leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1993 to 1998 and has been leader of the Quebec Liberal Party since 1998....
stated that the reading "trivializes the FLQ, terrorism and violence" .
On November 10, 2009, the RRQ blocked the entrance to the Black Watch
The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada
The Black Watch of Canada is a reserve infantry regiment in 34 Brigade Group, Land Force Quebec Area. The regiment is located on rue de Bleury in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and is currently commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Bruno Plourde...
military armory on Bleury Street in Montreal during a visit from Prince Charles
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
. The group of RRQ supporters said they were there to show their opposition to the British monarchy
British monarchy
The monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
.
External links
Réseau de Résistance du Québécois Official Site- An English translated version of the RRQ Manifesto