Violence at the March 15 protest against police brutality in Montreal was striking -- from flash bang grenades to CS gas and baton strikes, police dispatched serious weaponry against the annual demonstration.

In recent months, popular anger toward the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) has been building. From riot police violence against the growing Québec-wide student strike, to continued police killings in the city, police are facing a growing crisis in public confidence.

Striking students face police brutality

Montreal -- The trial of a Montreal man who was arrested after taking photos of undercover police will be heard in court later this week. Scott Weinstein was arrested on July 1, 2010, during a Montreal march denouncing mass arrests at the Toronto G20 protests. Julius Grey will appear for the defence in what promises to be an important political trial.

Weinstein left the march to take a video of a group of undercover police officers, who were described as "scary-looking" by another videographer. The undercover officers had earlier attempted to enter the march, only to be repulsed by watchful activists concerned about potential violence by police provocateurs. When Weinstein approached the undercovers, they were walking as a group in a street parallel to the march.