G-20 Protesters Expand Rallies as Toronto Braces for Summit
Protesters and community groups aim to intensify their demonstrations in Toronto today as businesses in the downtown of Canada’s largest city start to close ahead of this weekend’s Group of 20 summit.“There’s going to be a rally, a march, a block party and a tent city that’s going to go overnight,” Syed Hussan, spokesman for the Toronto Community Mobilization Network, said in an interview.
The network, which has been behind protests for the past week including yesterday’s downtown march of 1,200 people in support of indigenous groups’ rights, is planning a “feminist picnic” and a “Free the Streets” march this afternoon, a day before the start of the G-20 gathering.
“We have no interest in influencing their decision- making,” Hussan said. “The message is not meant to go to them, but rather the intention is to abolish” the G-20.
Toronto’s core is shutting down ahead of the arrival of world leaders, with at least 36 branches of banks including Toronto-Dominion Bank closed. Schools and liquor stores downtown are closed, while law firms such as Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP are shut for the day. The ground floor of an office complex on King Street has been boarded up with plywood to protect against protesters.
A 12-block section of Toronto’s downtown is surrounded by concrete barriers and three-meter (10-foot) high metal fencing, part of the largest security operation ever in Canada with 20,000 police and security guards. Starting at 8 p.m. tonight, only people who work in the security zone or are accredited for the summit at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre will be allowed to pass the gates.
Police Arrests
Police said they have arrested at least eight people in Toronto ahead of the G-20. An arrest of a man yesterday after police found weapons and hazardous materials inside his car near the security zone wasn’t related to the summit, police said. A 37-year-old man and his common-law wife were charged with possession of an explosive device in connection with the G-20, police said.
Protest organizers say the biggest march may be the “People First” rally planned for tomorrow at Queen’s Park, site of the Ontario provincial legislature, north of the downtown security zone.
Global nongovernment organizations including Oxfam and World Vision are also planning events in Huntsville, Ontario, the lakeside resort about 230 kilometers (143 miles) north of Toronto that’s host to the G-8 summit today and tomorrow.
Oxfam brought in actor Bill Nighy and Malawian nurse and activist Dorothy Ngoma yesterday at the Park Hyatt Toronto hotel to speak to reporters about shortfalls in aid and healthcare investments.
‘Pregnant Leaders’
World Vision is using mimes and stilt-walkers dressed as pregnant world leaders at demonstrations in Huntsville and Toronto.
“We’re using this idea that they’re pregnant with promise, and we want them to deliver,” World Vision Canada President Dave Toycen said in an interview. “Our message to the leaders of the G-8 is simply: make promises that are going to help children and families around the world, and then keep that promise.”
Canada is spending as much as C$1.2 billion ($1.15 billion) for the meetings to host world leaders, including C$930 million on security
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 comments: