CANADA: Bill 78 amplifies student protests
On May 22, Montreal police enforced Quebec's controversial emergency law "Bill 78" against an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 student protesters. Bill 78, which passed on May 17, mandates that organizers of demonstrations of ten or more people must advise police in advance of their intended march route. In addition, the bill discourages ongoing protests through imposing fines up to $125,000 CAD on student or union associations for preventing enrolled students from attending classes. The students began protesting in February against tuition-fee hikes. Bill 78 broadened the attention and scope of the protests as labor unions and pro-independence nationalists are now joining the movement. The Canadian Association of University Teachers, who already voiced support, is also considering financially backing the student groups as a result of Bill 78. On May 22, at least 100 people were arrested and two police officers were injured. Comment: Prior to the passing of Bill 78, protests were largely peaceful, with a few skirmishes. One of the nighttime tactics of the marches was to walk against the flow of traffic. (The Globe and Mail, The Globe and Mail, Calgary Herald)

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Danilo Medina elected president
Danilo Medina received 51.24 percent of the votes in Sunday's presidential election in the Dominican Republic. In his acceptance speech, Medina reiterated his campaign platform to fight poverty and social inequality in the country. During the elections, Medina promised projects that directly support youth, women, and the elderly. Medina's main opponent, Hipólito Mejía grudgingly accepted the election results, comparing the outcome to the inequitable elections during the Trujillo Era. The Organization of American States election monitoring teams did report a few instances of ballot box tampering, but stated that these isolated reports were not large enough to affect the overall results. Comment: In his address to the nation after the election, Mejía called for the unity of Dominicans "to work together to strengthen the democratic system, to approve the Political Parties Law, and the new Electoral Law, because these will guarantee that this is last time that the will of Dominicans will be violated." (El Nuevo Diario, La Nación Dominicana, Prensa Latina)

MEXICO: Yo Soy 132 movement growing in numbers and influence
The grassroots student movement Yo Soy 132 ("I am number 132") is increasing its influence in the upcoming Mexican presidential election, threatening to undermine Institutional Revolutionary Party's (PRI) candidate Enrique Peña Nieto. The movement's name refers to the original 131 students from the Iberoamericana University who posted a YouTube video on May 11 with each student stating their name and student identification number in response to PRI accusations against students who voiced disapproval against Peña Nieto. The PRI claims that students were working for opposing political parties in exchange for favors. The students state that they are defending their right to freedom of expression and are calling for balanced media coverage of the presidential campaign. An estimated 40,000 people protested on Saturday in Mexico City. Comment: The PRI governed Mexico and the media from 1929 to 2000. (Latin American Herald Tribune, International Business Times, Excelsior, Latino Times)