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.

The front line is every where

Our Charter arrested at G20

Celebrating Croatia Day

Protect Fundamental Freedoms - Defend Civil Liberties

This is not a weapon, It's free speech

Still Not Violent t-shirt

No Police State

There were lots of bubbles

Getting the perimeter rope ready - 'Weapons free zone'

I think this Jack Russell dog was protesting the police canine unit, he had an illegal butt sniff and was abused with calls of "bad, bad doggie".

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.

Protesters head north on Yonge Street.

Protesters temporarily occupy the intersection of Yonge and College Streets.

A large contingent of protesters wanted Police Chief Bill Blair to resign. The group marched through the streets to deliver the message right to the headquarters of the Toronto Police Department.

Heading back into Queens Park.

The police escort as the protest march gets close to Yonge Dundas.

Toronto Bike Police bicycles help to form a barrier at the entrance to the legislature.

"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.