Categories: Capital Diary

G20 protesters rally on Canada Day

by Mitchel Raphael on Friday, July 2, 2010 12:19pm - 193 Comments

Canada Day saw G20 protesters gather at Queen’s Park in Toronto. The front lawn of the Ontario legislature was packed with people demanding a public inquiry into the what happened in Toronto between police and citizens over the G20 weekend. The event was organized by Canadians Advocating Political Participation (CAPP) Toronto, the group that brought Canada those successful anti-prorogation rallies. Similar G20 protests were organized in other cities as well.

Tags: G20, Toronto

More by Mitchel Raphael

Ariadne

Remember those people who initiate rallies and protests, they are not there for your rights but they are there to get their names on the press ready for the next election. Opportunists all! I hope the police will sue for libel against those member of the press who alleged about rape – if they are found lying. There was one suppose to be a member of the independent press from Ontario who came to Vancouver olympics to supposedly report and protest on poverty in Vancouver, to Vancouver's dismay she used that press association to demand that she has to be given a free housing unit too, what a crock.

Rebecca Needham

It's ridiculous to assume that all protesters are criminals. How did you logically deduce that thousands of people were all there to get their names to the press for the next election – don't be ridiculous. It's utterly shameful that you would even suggest that a rape allegation would be false when the investigations have not commenced yet. Rape allegations are to be taken very seriously, many go unreported because of fear of being further victimized.

http://enbdavies.ca erich nolan bertussi davies

Spend some time look at as many videos on you tube as you can search for G20 and Cop or Cops you’ll find lots. Eventually if you see as many videos as I have you’ll wonder.

1. Why did Toronto police Ignore and leave cars when there were tonnes near by that could have stopped or simply not abondoned their cars.

2. Why did Toronto Police & OPP et al aka ISU attack, kick otherwise Assult all sorts of people in peaceful protest, including the elderly, Children women and regular every day folk.

Not just “long hairs” or people who were not white albeit when you watch enough videos on you tube like I have you’ll see: people with long hair Dark skin funky hair or Jewelery in their Skin significanly overtly targeted.

It’s not a co-incidence that OPP detachments from every Toronto hating Rural patch from Brcebridge to Pelee to Thunder bay.

It’s simple math at the end of the day, now determine who crafted the formula and you have the ultimate responsioble party.

Spend days weeks perhaps months combing the internet and you will evetually find each badge number and each Under Cover Mug Shot of each “Dirty Cop” who choose to listen to the CO instead of pursuing what is right and just in a free society.

Think of it this way. Ontario just had a nice filtration proccess for all it’s dirty cops, now we can get rid of them and let the good ones keep and do their Jobs!
JE Dorssers HBSW

Great to see so many people protesting peacefully with a strong message to our Government to stop lying to us about the waste of tax money that we the people provided for them. Their blatant abuse of power. . All under the disguise of "National Security " just to line their pockets with the rishes themselves.. Leave thousands of citizens on social assistance with the looming threat that the Special Diet Allowance will be scrapped leaving many fearing that they will not have enough food to eat come this winter when utility costs will rise dramatically…. shame on you …. and thanks to all those who protested peacefully to promote change not impede it with violent behavour.
Don

Well, well–who'd a thunk it? That we'd live long enough to see the day when the sheep finally say "enough is enough!"
But think about it; you're blaming the border collie instead of the shepherd!
Do you seriously think that the police department suddenly went rogue, in order to "take over the flock"? These people are trained, from day one, to obey orders; much the same as a good border collie.
We would be better served by focusing our attention on the shepherd.
Having been "sheared" for years, we're a bit shocked to learn that the reason for it is not that he thought we looked too warm. He only cares about the wool!
As individual sheep, we are fairly ineffectual, but in vast numbers, we have the potential for power; a power strong enough to perhaps influence the way we are treated by the leader of the flock! Always bear in mind where it is that they are predisposed to lead sheep and lambs to.
Don

Very interesting photo spread. In particular, the snap of one protester, an apparent English major, holding a sign above his head which reads "who will protect us from police".
His T-shirt bears the well reasoned and mature message "Fuck the G20". This advances the cause for a serious public inquiry how…?
Don

Let's try it again!
An interesting photo spread. In particular, the snap of one protester, an apparent English major, holding a sign above his head reading "who will protect us from police".
His T-shirt bears the well-reasoned and socially mature comment "F… the G20" And this advances the need for a serious public inquiry how…?

The Real Jan

Great grasp of the issue there, Don.

http://intensedebate.com/people/A_Nonny_Moose A_Nonny_Moose

To the board managers:

Well, well. I seem to be accumulating negative ratings at a great rate. From the way things are going, I take it this is the domain of the broken wheels who try to thump everything in view. What a shame. All you get are complaints. Don't you ever get sick of all these people who think they have a cause?

I would say that, on the average, the people replying to my posts are angry about something, and it is not necessarily the subject at hand. Some cooler heads should prevail, but I understand the psyche of these people, and I think it is sad. We have one of the best counties in the world and all they do is squeak their little axes against the public weal. What if the chips were really down?
http://intensedebate.com/people/Thwim Thwim

You mistyped the last letter of your username.

Just thought you might like to know.
NDP Suck

What a bunch of self centered, hypersensitive, looses. These kids, are really about building their own exaggerated legacy based upon mythology. if Toronto Police, are brutal, then how would the children describe Cuban, Iranian, Russian, or Chinese police? This collection of idiots, are simply little more than school yard lassies, who don't come in from recess as quickly as they should. All of them are a bunch of overfed, overindulged sissies.

Toronto Citizen

Typical internet tough guy. How would you like being trapped in a cell for 19 hours? With no access to a phone? With hardly any water or food? Whatever you think of the protesters' beliefs, they had the right to voice them without being thrown in a dungeon.
Toronto Citizen

And your spelling sucks.

fuckTheBlackBloc

lol at the guy holding "angry protest sign"
DontBeASheep

if you want to read what it looked like check that: http://www.newsocialist.org/index.php?option=com_…

Theres hundred of stories like that.
jade_lee

Remember the OPP at Ipperwash? Remember the RCMP actions at the airport in BC? Remember those Toronto cops investigated for criminal behaviour in the entertainment district? The public has a short memory but loss of confidence in those who are supposed to enforce our laws gets real ugly in the end, especially if it is across the country, across police agencies and with only the minority supporting the actions of police because they are related? The public trust in our authority figures is weakened and mainstream media appears confused and perhaps too loyal to those who provide a steady stream of info to them?
Toronto Citizen

It's nice to see some outraged comments from "mainstream" Canadians. I'm hardly a radical, but the events of last Sunday absolutely disgusted me. I went to the rally on Canada Day and I was disappointed that fringe groups (Bolshevik League, etc.) seemed to make up the majority of the protesters. It's time for Canada's complacent middle-class to wake up and speak up. Your country depends on it!
Meany

I was walking up Spadina middle of the day on that Sunday, near College, FAR from any protest, when a bunch of cops demanded to see my ID, searched my bags, and basically threatened to arrest me if I didn't give them 100% cooperation. What did I do wrong to deserve all that? I don't know. But I recall walking away feeling THANKFUL that I wasn't arrested.

……and then it struck me: What country am I living in, that I just felt THANKFUL that I wasn't arbitrarily arrested, for walking up the street two blocks from where I live, when I did absolutely NOTHING wrong? What country am I living in, when as a law abiding citizen who avoids protests and large crowds, I fear the police? This isn't the Toronto and Canada I know.

I didn't know about this rally, and I feel a little bit ashamed I wasn't out there with them.
A_Nonny_Moose

To: theintellectual

I missed your comment. Spamassassin canned it before I had a chance to look at it, so it must have contained some of its key words. I am forced to think that it wasn't very polite. If you'd care to resend it, I've turned on my spam long now.
http://intensedebate.com/people/LynnTO LynnTO

CAPP, not to be confused with the CAPP that saw a Facebook membership grow to more fans than Stephen Harper (and that glorious little onion ring.)
http://intensedebate.com/people/ChrisInKW ChrisInKW

Same CAPP, new name.
http://intensedebate.com/people/A_Nonny_Moose A_Nonny_Moose

How I hate acronyms and alphabet soup. Why can't you people spell these names out?
sbt

Pretty sure it's somehow all Mike Harris' fault.
http://intensedebate.com/people/A_Nonny_Moose A_Nonny_Moose

Well, I guess that makes you a gLiberal or a Trendy-pee supporter. Poor Mike, didn't he kick the can up there in his northern retreat? You shouldn't speak ill of the dead. It's too bad that history says the next Ontario government will be Conservative (another word for Federal Liberal?). The tie-dye couple and their followers should be replaced by the environmentalists (Green Party) as the crying-in-the-wilderness party. Olivia, Jack & Co. have had their innings and should let someone else at the plate.
sbt

I was being sarcastic and joking about how everything seems to be his fault in Ontario according to protesters. Sarcasm doesn't always come through well in the written word.
http://intensedebate.com/people/A_Nonny_Moose A_Nonny_Moose

Sure it does. I was being facetious right back.