In 1960s Montreal, the Extremist Organization 'Front de libération du Québec' Used Bank Robbery to Fund its Agenda and Spread its Message

In the turbulent counterculture of the 1960s, the Canadian Separatist group Front de libération du Québec targeted institutions of state power including several banks in order to fund its operations

Depiction of members of “Front de Libération du Québec”.

Background

Montreal in the early 1960s, Cobblestone streets, charming cafes, and the familiar lilt of French echoed through the air. But beneath the surface, a quiet storm was brewing.

This was the era of the Quiet Revolution, a period of rapid change in Quebec. People were questioning old norms and seeking a new identity. The province was no longer content to play a supporting role in Canada's narrative; it wanted to write its own story.

French Canadians, who for decades felt like second-class citizens in their own land, were starting to flex their muscles. They wanted their language, their culture, and their dreams to be front and center, not pushed aside and whispered in hushed tones.

They were tired of hearing English dominate the boardrooms and government offices, tired of feeling like outsiders in their own homes. The schools, the hospitals, the way people lived - everything was changing. Quebecers were saying, "We want to control our destiny." It was a time of hope and aspirations for a brighter future.

Marginalization and Nationalism: Fueling the Flames of Separatism

Yet, in the midst of this change, seeds of discontent were taking root. This clash of perspectives created a fertile ground for resentment and frustration. Some French Canadians, feeling increasingly marginalized, started to whisper a word that once seemed unthinkable: Separation. Separation from Canada, from the perceived shackles of English dominance, and the creation of a sovereign, independent Quebec.

Nationalism began to simmer. People started asking, "Why can't we decide our own fate without interference?" This frustration was the fuel that ignited a flame, and it set the stage for the emergence of radical ideas.

As the winds of change blew through Quebec, whispers of separatism began to circulate. Little did they know that these whispers would grow into loud voices, demanding attention and challenging the very foundation of the Canadian Federation. The stage was set for the rise of the Front de libération du Québec (FLQ).

Flag of the FLQ

Birth of the FLQ: From Radical Ideals to Armed Activism

In the backdrop of Quebec's shifting landscape, a group emerged with radical ideals, seeking more than just a voice—they wanted to shout, and if necessary, to scream. The Front de libération du Québec (FLQ) was born in 1963, a product of its turbulent times.

This was a group of passionate individuals, fired up by the dreams of an independent Quebec, who grew increasingly frustrated with what they saw as the slow pace of change. The FLQ was not content with peaceful protests or political discourse; they believed in action, in making waves that couldn't be ignored.

Armed with homemade bombs and borrowed Che Guevara posters, the FLQ decided to speak not in polite petitions, but in the deafening language of explosions. Their first target was a Montreal armory. Boom! A message sent in a tremor of smoke and fire. This wasn't about polite debate; it was a declaration of war on the status quo.

The FLQ's journey began with a desire for a Quebec that stood on its own, free from the influence of the rest of Canada. The sense of injustice and perceived oppression fueled their determination to take matters into their own hands.