No Links to Human Chain

The planned formation of a human chain by tens of thousands of Tamil protesters in May 5, 2009 in downtown Toronto was postponed. The mass demonstration along Yonge Street - starting and returning from Union Station, was apparently cancelled due to favourable media and political conditions.

I walked along Yonge Street during the lunch hour and failed to see any protesters that might not have received word of the cancellation – nothing. I did see a group of mounted police officers heading south ready for any unruly mob of hungry office workers who, looking for food, suddenly spring into protest mode. Besides the crowds gathered around the many hot dog carts upset at the price increase from $2.50 to $3.00 for an all beef hotdog there was no other evidence of civil unrest.

Tamil protest becomes peaceful again

The chanting crowd of protesters have been moved off University Avenue back onto the boulevard across from the American Consulate after a number of days of blocking the road. When I came by the Tamil protesters were behind barriers shouting for President Obama to stop the war while faced by a large presence of Metropolitan Toronto Police.