Sir George Williams Computer Riot

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The Sir George Williams Computer Riot was a 1969 event at Sir George Williams University in Montreal, Canada, now a part of Concordia University. It was the largest student riot in Canadian history.

Beginning on January 29, over 400 students occupied the university's computer lab. The occupation was sparked by the university's mishandling of racism allegations against a professor at the school. Fed up with what they considered to be intransigence on the part of the administration, students left a meeting and occupied the university computer lab on the ninth floor of the Henry F. Hall Building.

Most of the occupation was quite peaceful: the police were not involved, and negotiations continued. The computer lab was not damaged, except for the several million computer punch cards that were sent fluttering to the street below.

The occupation continued until February 11 when negotiations broke down and riot police were called in. A fire broke out in the computer lab, forcing the occupiers out of the building. Ninety-seven of them were arrested. The computer lab was destroyed, resulting in over $2 million in damage. Windows were smashed and computer tapes and punched cards tossed onto the street below. The charges against most of the rioters were eventually dismissed.

The riot was covered extensively by the Canadian media: all of the television networks filmed the event live from outside the university. The occupation became a key event illustrating the widespread disaffection and rebelliousness among the nation's youth during the 1960s. The occupation led to greater openness at Sir George Williams, and other universities across Canada.

Among the occupiers arrested was Roosevelt Douglas, who later became Prime Minister of Dominica, and Anne Cools, now a Canadian Senator. Also deeply involved was student Cheddi "Joey" Jagan, Jr., son of Guyana's prime minister.