G20 Anniversary Rally

The front lawn of Queen's Park filled with peaceful protesters marking the anniversary of the G20 Summit blowing into town. Music and posters filled the air in front of the Provincial Legislature building before speeches started and chants joined the items filling the air.

As a bonus there were free protest t-shirts which said G20 REDUX Fundamental Freedoms Festival June 25, 2011 on the back and 'I went to the G20 and all I got was... Arrested, Kettled, Clubbed, Politicized and a fill in the blank' option.

The police presence was a lot friendlier this time around. And there were a lot of leaflets being passed around. I even saw the Communist Party banner, although I think that is a weird choice because they would proably stifle democratic free speech and peaceful protests.

Sid Ryan, President of the Ontario Federation of Labour, talks to the protesters

Listening to the radio the rally turned into a march that wound around City streets heading ultimately towards the Metropolitan Police Department Headquarters on College Street.

See lots more photos of the rally after the jump.

G20 Anniversary

This weekend will mark the one year anniversary of the G20 2010 Summit held in downtown Toronto and to celebrate the happy memories there will be a 2pm rally on June 25, 2011 at Queen's Park. Bring an anniversary card and cupcakes in lieu of cakes and presents. 'Protest your right to protest'!

There have been calls for inquiries and investigations but society isn't necessarily interested in exposing the reasons behind some of the decisions made during the protests. Many still believe that anyone downtown was responsible for the rioting and they deserved whatever they got. My shock was finding how easy it was to lose your rights and start to fear the police and politicians. There were few people held responsible for the issues that developed throughout the summit, whether it was the Black Bloc or the authorities, and only a few gained notice beyond the Toronto G20 weekend - except maybe for Officer 'Bubbles'.

Protest for Public Inquiry into Toronto G20 Summit

The loss of our rights and freedoms that happened during the G20 Summit held in Toronto during the month of June 2010 was especially noticeable with the mass searches, detentions, arrests and violence that took place during the gathering of select world leaders. A number of people would like a public inquiry into the events that led to such police actions and on Saturday, January 8, 2011 and so they gathered at Queens Park to press forward their request. 

The numbers were relatively small and while they gathered on University Street at the foot of the provincial legislature they soon decided to march along Toronto's streets and headed off with a large contingent of police providing escort and traffic safety duty. The key destination was to be the Toronto Police Headquarters to call for the Chief's removal and then to return to Queens Park.

I think that not a lot of people are behind the G20 protesters or their call for a public inquiry. Many voices seem to think that those who were protesting deserved the loss of freedom and whatever else happened to them at the hands of the police. I do know that it was only through the public and media documentation in pictures and video that have helped to right some of the wrongs suffered by so many and also hopefully catch many of the black bloc protesters that caused so much damage.

Doug helps to coordinate the protest march details with the police.

Press for Truth's Dan Dicks at Queens Park to document the ongoing G20 Summit fallout. His G20 coverage documented much of the activities that showed the attack on the public's rights and freedoms that occurred during the summit.

Cheri DiNovo, MPP for ParkDale - High Park addresses the crowd and reporters on the front lawn of Queens Park. She calls for an inquiry to "hold those people accountable".

Cheri DiNovo, MPP

Courtney Winkels (right and below) made famous for her confrontation with "Officer Bubbles" attends the protest and provides plenty of bubbles during the day. She of course blew bubbles during the weekend of the G20 Summit and the police constable threatened her with arrest for assault if one of the bubbles touched him.

See more photos of the protest and the march through the streets of Toronto with a stop at Toronto Police Headquarters - after the jump.

"Officer Bubbles"

One of the most surprising turn of events arising out of the whole G20 weekend was the saga of Police Constable Adam Josephs who became known as "Officer Bubbles". Overly stern he was roasted for saying he would arrest a protester named Courtney Winkels who was blowing bubbles "If a bubble touches me, you're going to be arrested for assault."

With so many cameras on hand it was not surprising that the episode was filmed and put up on YouTube. Soon cartoons appeared on the net making fun of the whole bubble situation. The officer soon launched a lawsuit against YouTube, the cartoons and those that made comments about the officer.

I ran into Constable Josephs on Friday, June 25 during the gathering of protesters and marchers in Allan Gardens Park and before he became famous. It's also the first time that I saw members of the Black Bloc hiding behind their large banners.

You can tell they were members of the violent Black Bloc because of their distinctive all black outfits and the headgear which covered their anarchist faces. You have to be careful though because not everyone wearing all black, including masks, are bad guys. And some people actually have unusual last names like "Nobody".

G20 Law resulted in "Massive Violations of Civil Rights"

Riot police, including mounted units, block University Avenue during the G20 Summit.

Ontario Ombudsman finds "massive violations of civil rights" by police during the G20 Summit which started with the Toronto Police request for the regulation in the Public Works Protection Act. The Ontario Government led by Premior Dalton McGuinty acted upon their request. The potential for trouble was compounded by the Ministry's decision not to publicize the regulation, the Toronto Police miscommunication and misinterpretations of the regulation and the police forces' apparent zeal to curb civil rights in Toronto to "keep the criminals out". The Ombudsman also found that the regulation was providing "war measures" in peacetime. I applaud Ontario's Ombudsman Andre Marin for his review and finding and am glad that we have in place such an office that is allowed to review and make public such a report.

Chief Bill Blair's handling of the Adam Nobody issue also seems to continue shocking misinformation that has come out of the police on many of the G20 Summit problems. These statements include allegations that rubber bullets weren't used by police and that seized weapons the police displayed were all from the G20 protesters. The National Post had an article entitled Bill Blair's trouble with the truth.

I was also dismayed to find that a few police seemed to have removed their nametags and engaged in alleged excessive force against two men. Nearly 100 police were found to have removed their nametags and will be disciplined according to this article.

I wish the massive amounts of fully equipped riot police would have arrested the few people damaging property during the protests. Heaven help us when they react this way for approximately 100 black bloc yahoos.

Ombudsman to release report on G20 secret law

The Ontario Ombudsman (Andre Marin) started a review in early July of the "origin and subsequent communication" of changes to the law known as the Public Works Protection Act used during the G8/G20 Summits. The Ombudsman has twittered that he has finished his report and will present it to the Ontario Government and that it will be made public before the end of this year.

"@Ont_Ombudsman: Our #G20 investigation: evidence gathering complete, draft report to b finalized within next 10 days and provided to Ont gov't for comment."

The photo above shows two lone riot police officers at the north west side of Queen's Park just minutes before long lines of riot police drive people from the south yard of the legislature property while at the same time another large contingent of riot police are sweeping in from the north east.

As many of us know the police explained to the public that within 5 metres of the fence they could stop and arrest people that did not provide identification. This soon extended to unreasonable searches and demands for identification in areas that were outside that 5m distance and in fact were far away from the secure, fenced area down by the Metro Convention Centre. When I saw the police searching backpacks along Yonge Street I asked them why they were searching bags, it didn't take them long to intimidate me and ask for my identification, which they wrote down.

The Toronto Police website states that "Officers may stop pedestrians on the street if they observe an offence, if they are investigating a complaint, or if they believe the person has committed or is about to commit a crime. These interactions usually involve the officer asking for your name, address and identification, and other questions that are appropriate to their investigation." The large amount of police cameras installed through out the downtown core didn't seem to help the police control the black bloc.

It has subsequently been widely reported that the police did not actually have the power they claimed or used so widely. They could only require identification of people trying to enter the secure, fenced area. And if you didn't want to show identification you could leave the area. Here is a picture of Global news reporter Alex Pierson covering the summit.

I feel the Black Bloc was wrong, that this country is peaceful and democratic and that violent protests were not warranted by anyone. I also feel that the many thousands of police could and should have stopped the Black Bloc when they were committing the vandalism, without searching everyone's belongings and asking for identification and even arresting so many peaceful protesters and innocent spectators of the weekend's events.

Interestingly enough a National Post article has a quote from a G20 security spokesman saying "Although Constable Wendy Drummond, a spokeswoman for the G20 Integrated Security Unit, would not address the Black Bloc movement specifically, she said the unit is “prepared for any eventuality.”
Read more: http://news.nationalpost.com/2010/06/14/the-black-bloc-a-look-at-the-anarchists-who-post-the-biggest-g20-security-threat/#ixzz11v8cugFG"


See more pictures after the jump.

G20 Protests - streets return to normal

The G20 Summit security zone fences and barriers have been put away and the streets of Toronto are returning to normal. It turns out that the police did not have the power to search people and check IDs 5m outside the fence after all.

Most of the damaged windows are covered over in plywood and some plywood coverings, such as Urban Outfitters on Yonge Street, have been used for sale signs. A few of the windows have also started to be replaced, like at the Bay. Street furniture is being put back in place and soon the plastic garbage bags taped to streetlights will be removed.

The burned up police cars have left a few scars on the streets which will be one of the longer lasting affects of the protests. Here is the intersection of Bay and King Streets where a cars was torched.

One thing that was fleeting was the jets of the G8/G20 leaders in Toronto. Here is a picture of the US President's Air Force One plane in Toronto International Airport on Saturday night, June 26.

Pam Seatle reporting live from the G20 frontlines

CityTV reporter Pam Seatle, gas mask at the ready, reports on the frontlines of the G20 Summit protests on the south yard of Queen's Park. This was just before the riot police started moving northwards to take over the south yard and the north yard which was Summit's official protest site.

There were many people with gas masks including the police, some protesters and some media. Actually there were some media with helmets on, just in case. I understand from the reports that the police were arresting people carrying gas masks (which they may have found during illegal searches) so I hope Pam didn't end up in the pokey.

G20 Protests - The face of peaceful protesters

The many thousands of people engaged in the democratic principle of free speech and protest gathered on the streets of Toronto and marched to spread their awareness about their causes - which for the most part centered around union solidarity and helping others, in fact the title of the march was "People First".

Some came looking for a fight and violent confrontations but the vast majority wanted to take part in a typical Canadian protest - which includes bright flags, colourful costumes, funny signs and friendly smiles. Many more gathered and joined in the march to witness the day's events and to add their voices in protest as there were some that found the G20 police presence and loss of freedom was something to be concerned about. We saw one hothead grab some bricks and the crowd around him told him to drop the bricks - which he did.

My favourite group was the clowns who joined in a small group and in an intriguing fashion moved closer and closer to the line of police blocking Bay Street at Richmond Street. They moved everyone out of their way by saying they weren't looking for us, they were looking for the police. Each one moved from the back to the front, posed and then another from the back took their place. They finally get to the police line, bring a smile to the police, were refused passage and carefully backed away in the same manner as how they arrived.

Some people wore funny outfits or had funny sayings on their shirts - like the ever popular "Don't Taze me Bro" or "Free Hugs". Many of the friendly faces were even those of the police after the main groups of protesters pass they quickly relax and even joke around with people.

You can see more pictures of the protesters after the jump.

G20 Protests - Damage in the Streets

Sid Ryan gathered some union members and started a march of about 4,000 down University Avenue on Saturday, June 26, 2010. The early start to the peaceful march was briefly interrupted when a single elderly protester got into the barriers along University Avenue in front of the American Consulate. The riot police banged their shields and deployed within the barriers and five or six of the officers then took down the protester.

The protest carried on down to Queen Street, turning west towards Spadina. They had to turn west at Queen Street because of the line of bicycle police forming an arc, backed up by a phalanx of riot police who were in turn supported by a contingent of mounted police. Along the route sidestreets were blocked with riot police keeping the march moving west.

At Queen and Spadina the main group went north back to Queens Park while a large contingent remained at the intersection confronting the police blocking their way south. After a short period the protesters left this area and headed east along Queen Street towards Bay Street and the Eaton Centre.

Walking along Queen Street behind the protest we surveyed the damage as mail boxes were tipped over in the street and the occasional windows were broken and cars damaged. CTV and the banks seemed to be the specific targets.

At the former Much Music Building and now home to CTV the riot police move closer after windows in the building were broken. When they moved people out of speakers corner some of the protesters were hit by police including this young lady who said she got a riot shield pressed against followed with a baton hit against the shield that left a welt on her arm.

We were continuing down Bay Street when the police began blocking off intersections, cutting off the protesters in the individual blocks as reports of explosions began to surface - it turns out that these were the police cars being destroyed and lit on fire. Here is the view looking south down Bay Street.

After they had opened up a lot of Bay Street the police suddenly set up a blockade on Bay Street just south of Queen Street and the court house. The chanting of the crowds soon sent this group of riot police heading south.

There were a couple of police cars set afire on this day, several in the area of Queen and Spadina. One of the cars still smolders in the background as the riot police line up along Queen Street.

Protester were in several large groups throughout the downtown core. Some were closer to the fenced area while many others circulated along Queen Street, University Street, Queens Park and also Yonge Street.

The protestors were made up of several major groups - the hard core anarchists hoping to stir things up, the activists getting their message across to the world forum that the G20 creates, the protesters protesting the police powers and loss of freedoms, the main stream and online media documenting the day and a large group of people watching what happens and taking part in the protest in a very mild way. Only the anarchists really wanted to cause damage and there really wasn't that many of them and most of the time they were dressed in black with balaclavas and hoods disguising their identities. When the anarchist group joined up with the peaceful protesters at Queens Park they took off their black clothes and blended into the crowd.

As the day wore on the police seemed to be trying to bore the protesters into dispersing, both the small component eager to cause damage and mayhem and the regular activists intent on peaceful means, when things changed and the mounted and riot police moved into Queens Park. The police moved north onto the south yard of the legislature and began driving the protesters north where many were struck by batons and arrested. I was surprised because I thought Queens Park was supposed to be the official protest site.

Up till that point the police were only containing the crowd with lines of police blocking routes leading south towards the fence. Even the damage along Queen Street and Bay Streets went unchallenged which I think was a good idea as the anarchists needed to get the crowd whipped into a frenzy and willing to take on the police - however this is Canada and all we really wanted to do was protest and witness the events of the day. Seeing the police charge in and start arresting people would have got many of the crowd angry and really ramp up the charged atmosphere.

The anarchists have certainly hijacked the day and everyone will now only think of the damage that was done and probably call for an end of more of our freedoms. Well, at least the world leaders weren't inconvenienced.

See more pictures of the protest after the jump.