Anarchopanda information

Anarchopanda (French pronunciation: [anaʁkopɑ̃da]) is a giant panda and the unofficial mascot of the 2012 Quebec student protests, known for hugging both students and police officers.^[1]^[2] His first appearance was at a protest on May 8, 2012.^[3] He was portrayed by philosophy professor Julien Villeneuve at Montreal CEGEP Collège de Maisonneuve.

The Anarchopanda persona was discontinued in 2020 after Villeneuve was publicly accused of attempting sexual relations with a 16-year-old girl at his home in 2012, while she was inebriated and after she had repeatedly told him she wanted to leave. He initially responded on Facebook, saying "I am not a predator", but subsequently issued no response to the content of the allegations.^[4]

^ "Montreal Professor Is Costumed Crusader at Quebec Student Protests". The Chronicle of Higher Education. 2012-08-01. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
^ "Grève étudiante: un panda pour la gratuité scolaire". Huffington Post Quebec. 15 May 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
^ Pindera, Loreen (June 22, 2016). "Quebec Superior Court strikes down Montreal's ban on masked protesters". CBC. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
^ "L'homme derrière Anarchopanda, la mascotte du printemps érable, aurait agressé et manipulé une fille de 16 ans". Québec Nouvelles (in Canadian French). Retrieved 2022-12-18.

[1] "Montreal Professor Is Costumed Crusader at Quebec Student Protests". The Chronicle of Higher Education. 2012-08-01. Retrieved 2022-12-18.

[2] "Grève étudiante: un panda pour la gratuité scolaire". Huffington Post Quebec. 15 May 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2012.

[3] Pindera, Loreen (June 22, 2016). "Quebec Superior Court strikes down Montreal's ban on masked protesters". CBC. Retrieved October 6, 2022.

[4] "L'homme derrière Anarchopanda, la mascotte du printemps érable, aurait agressé et manipulé une fille de 16 ans". Québec Nouvelles (in Canadian French). Retrieved 2022-12-18.