Thousands March in Canada's Casseroles Night

Thousands banged pots and pans as they marched in more than 70 cities all across Canada Wednesday night. The spreading "casserole" protests have erupted in Quebec as thousands of non-students have joined with the students to demand an end to austerity measures and Bill 78, which bans unauthorized public assemblies and curtails the right to protest.

Casserole Night in Halifax, Nova Scotia -- 150 enthusiastic people from all walks of life took to the streets last night in a show of solidarity with the ongoing protests in Quebec. (Photo/Miles Howe) People cheer from their porches as processions of marchers pass through the streets.

Casserole rallies or cacerolazos originated in Latin American countries as a form of popular protest where people bang pots and pans.

Meanwhile, Quebec's emergency anti-protest legislation - Bill 78 - has now drawn the attention of the United Nations.

Two UN experts on freedom of expression have raised concerns about Quebec demonstrations which took place on May 24 that involved serious acts of violence and the detention of up to 700 protesters.

They urged the provincial government to respect the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, expression and association of students.

The recently adopted legislation unduly restricts students rights to freedom of association and of peaceful assembly in Quebec, warned Maina Kiai, the UN special rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.

Kiai said fines ranging up to $125,000 that are included in the law are disproportionate and warned that a municipal regulation requiring protesters to provide their itinerary in advance should not be misused to restrict the legitimate right to freedom of peaceful assembly.

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Thousands March in Canada's Casseroles Night