Tamil Protests Shut Down the Gardiner
Members of the Toronto Tamil community have brought the Gardiner to a stand-still. Entering the Spadina on-ramp earlier this evening, a throng of protesters has effectively halted traffic in both directions. Photos are starting to surface online including more than 20 in this Flickr set. Torontoist also has posted some excellent up close photos. And a blog called TorontoProtest has a series of photos documenting the ascent up the on-ramp.
Update: The Gardiner has now been cleared, but a group of protesters is now blocking University again this morning.
Videos have also been posted to YouTube including this one of protesters rushing the on-ramp.
Other eyewitness videos:
Comments (133)
Sad reality: no one gives a f**k about what's happening in Sri Lanka... everyone I know and even strangers on the street share the same (anti-) sentiment.
People were already frustrated when University was blocked, but to overrun/block a major expressway on Mother's Day will only anger them further and create more opposition to those people and their cause.
It's unfortunate but it's the truth.
It's true. Seeing the march by my store today was powerful. However, everyone inside was livid and was being very critical of them and their cause. I think I was the only one in awe of the whole thing.
That's a lot of Tamil Tiger's flags. Again, best of luck to them getting support while waving them. People are dying over there. The Tamil protesters need to smarten the hell up. You will get zero support from the government while waving one of those flags. None. It will not happen. If you want people to stop dying, then put the goddamn flags away. This is the last I'm going to talk about this.
I understand the plight and suffering of the Tamil people.
I GET IT!!!
I am a nice NDP guy but this is starting to really piss me off!
The sadder truth is that by associating themselves with the LTTE (an acknowledged terrorist group by most western governments) these protesters are in fact ensuring that their demands will not be satisfied. It is one thing to push Canada into taking a more proactive role in facilitating negotiations between the two sides of the war, but to actively declare allegiance to this group ensures that it is not going to happen. The government will simply NOT assist a terrorist group. The whole strategy behind these protests needs to be rethought.
just gas 'em fuckers. seriously, this is enough. the tamil tigers invented suicide bombings, they use child soldiers (according to UNICEF), they murdered many in a hideous political campagin to destroy other tamil democratic movements in order to consolidate their control. these fuckers are not representative of their community, these fuckers are the tamil tigers foreign foot soldiers. gas 'em, and arrest them. people want to get home and these type of stunts will never win any supporters; what's next, are they gonna threaten us with suicide bombs and threaten us with more closers of our roads until we do what they want us to do? Hmm, they sound a lot like the terrorists they claim not be.
Not just the Gardiner. This evening the police have closed the DVP southbound due to the traffic problems created by the Gardiner being closed. The backup is as far as Finch.
This is reprehensible. The Tamil cause was pretty weak to start with. This doesn't make me want to support it. Don't bring your ethnic fights to this country.
as said, their methods of protesting are not working. not only is this not helping their cause, and they're driving ppl away. they're pissing ppl off and are causing real inconvenience, but they're barking up the wrong tree.
they should perhaps try to protest somewhere where they can get their local gov't involved and then go up that way. and finally, waving a known terrorist group flag = fail
I am too hurt to see Tamils who came to this country think they can do the same things that they used to do in Sri lanka.
Immigration dept. should check how they immigrated to my country
ILLEGAL immigrants should expel to where ever they came from.
I DONT WANT A ELLAM IN CANADA
So guys, it looks like the protests DID work. If you check out the second clip it's reported that a Canadian rep IS going to Sri Lanka to see what's up. Where that will lead, who knows.
The LTTE flags issue is a dead horse I may only poke with a stick a couple of times as opposed to beating, but regardless it appears the protesting has worked.
Was there anyone with a megaphone at any point in time, shouting a message and perhaps explaining the reasoning for waving LTTE flags? That could have sped this way the fuck up.
Wow, not cool guys. I mean come on, some people are being plain racist. If you look at it, we're all immigrants from one point in history or another, so quit it with the immigrants thing.Moreover, I think most people fail to see that many of these protestors were Canadian born, raised and you'll be seeing a lot more them in your future, as doctors, teacher, accountant, etc, so they are CANADIANS fighting in the only place they call home.Next, when the Ontario farmers or when it is another "North American" protest you see it as for a good cause but when people who look different from us are, then it's inappropriate?!?! Next, this is not a new problem, you heard the protestors it's been ongoing for 30 some odd years. And hey from a PR prespective, they got your attention didn't they. And I think if we all look beyond the whole " oh these are not the same people I am", you'll see that isn't an ethnic fight, it's a humanitarian fight. Oh and the mother's day thing, these people have lost their mothers and you're worried you can't see your mother now- so insensitive. And man- get over the terrorist thing, fine they're waving the wrong flags but how lame is it to pick on this one point and not look at their message. So forget that this is a tamil problem and understand that this a human problem. Oh and trying to deport them, yeah that's wise, because Canada with its dwindling population and lack of work ethic is really going places. So before you blog, check out some alternative sources and oh yeah, don't eat before doing so, your stomach can't handle it.
Yes, these people protesting are members of the Toronto Tamil community, but lumping them together with Tamils as a whole threatens to sour people's opinion about the ethnic group as a whole, which is just plain wrong.
Let's all be clear here then that these people protesting are supporters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (Tamil Tigers). This group is classified as a terrorist organization by the Canadian government, has been accused of using child soldiers by UNICEF, and has admittedly employed suicide bombers for attacks, including the attacks which killed Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, and Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premadasa.
It is quite sad that in the eyes of many, these protesters utilizing their disruptive techniques have come to represent the Tamils as a whole.
Though the reports emerging from Sri Lanka are questionably truthful, it can be agreed that there have been thousands of people killed or displaced by the fighting. The innocents affected by this conflict need our help and support to help establish peace and equality in Sri Lanka.
Support the Innocent Tamils, Sinhalese, Berghers and all other ethnic groups living in Sri Lanka who have suffered through decades of war.
Do not support the Tamil Tigers.
hey hey hey > blocking the highway > clogging it > making it so no one can move > isn't that what mississauganites and oakvillians are for?
I respect that the tamils are upset about what is going on in their homeland...but Canadians are not to blame. Strong-arming our government is not cool and the police must act.
Enough is enough. Taking our city hostage? Perhaps we now have a better understanding of what the Sri Lankan government is dealing with; the tamil tigers are a terrorist organization...indeed, they have been terrorizing toronto for some time and it must end. Perhaps it's time we should rethink our immigration policy - and compare the costs and benefits of bringing certain individuals into Canada.
Hey Blair...have some guts and end this nonsense.
I can't imagine how scared I'd be if I saw flocks of people running down the street wearing terrorist flags (just like in the clip where they're running past Concord CityPlace).
I just hope these idiots wake the fuck up and the situation can be defused without any violence.
my heart go out to all tamils and those suffering from the conflict... but stay off the damn highway,
I hadn't realized that suburbanites were so gung ho on factory and manual labour, or cleaning work, or demeaning and low paid jobs with little or no job security. Whoops then, by all means let the suburbanites have the jobs.
I have been supportive of the Tamil appeal for the government to do something. But the callousness been shown by them by going onto the highway is outrageous. The audacity, how fucking dare you?
We understand people are being murdered, but you have to understand Canada has their own problems. Soldiers dying in Afghanistan, the recession and now the swine flu. Canada is a smaller nation compared to our sister the United States. We don't have enough resources to deal with so many problems.
Toronto in itself has to deal with a $85 billion deficit in the next five years.
Source - http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_31417.aspx
And I'm sorry to say but the Police and the OPP have been to soft with the protesters going on to the highway. This kind of behavior is aberrant. What's next Indian's trying to march on to the highway to protect Ruby Dhalla? We have to learn to respond immediately.
After Bush had a show thrown at him same was the fate of the Indian PM Mr.Manmohan Singh.
Today was a disaster, the hold up of traffic and screwing everyone over should not have been tolerated and I'm deeply ashamed at our Police and OPP.
This thread illustrates the typical selfishness and ignorance of the world (particularly the west) in response to genocide.
All you people can think about is your cars, traffic, and how this might inconvenience you.
Genocide has historically gone unnoticed until after the fact - sometimes it takes drastic and disruptive action to get attention and make a difference and these people have nothing to lose.
To Toronto's Tamil community: Keep up the good work! Your voices will be heard.
i saw the video of these 'peaceful' protesters attacking a line of 6 police officers whom were attempting to hold them back from entering the gardiner. those men are brave. needless to say, i agree with many on this blog that these naive protesters have gone too far and turned what good will and sympathies i might have had into spite and general ill will.
Police chief Blair, if tear gas can clear the roads but there are still reckless parents shielding themselves with their offspring before morning rush hour, there is no question about the ethical usage of gas on their children. Surely the people of toronto will agree, we need our roads and will support you if you so should decided to disperse the crowd with gas.
80% correct except that we give .... about tamils. First - who allowed them into this democratic, civilized country? Liberals?
Secondly the tamils must understand now that TERRORISM never wins any wars, they lost in Sri Lanka & they will loose here, in Toronto. They MUST NOT BLACKMAIL our governments, nor our taxpayers.
What about our counter-terrorists? Nobody had any intelligence (informers) in the tamil groups? Now they are taken by "surprise"???? Some heads should roll for such slackness!
The tamils use the same cowardly tactics as their terrorists in Sri Lanka - they put their children & women as shields so then they can claim "brutalities" against children & women. In Sri Lanka their terrorists do not fight wearing uniforms so when they are shot - they hope to count the loss as a "killed civilian"!
We demand our Country to support the Sri Lankan government!
Are you serious? You see nothing wrong with illegally shutting down a highway and using children and babies (hmmm I wonder where they got that tactic from?) as shields against the police, who will inevitably be called racists if they do anything?
And lets say we all lost all but three of our brain cells and we agree with your apologist self, who do we support in this genocide? The government with blood on its hands, or the terrorist group with blood on their hands? Its a bad situation either way.
The Tamil community caught everyone's attention at first. Now they've just pissed most Canadians off.
They certianly got many torontonians to notice the issue.
but.
They shouldn't have been united as 'tamil tiger' supporters, it would have been best for them to be united as Sri Lankans who are care about the well being of Sri Lanka.
Gettiing support from governemnt from the issue could make it seem like Canada is supporting a rebel/terrorist group.
If they're really concerent about their country they should have been nuetral and avoided taking sides. Choosing sides = conflicts, which keeps the fueling burning for the civil war.
The protesters are as stubbern and arogant as the Gov. in Sri lanka. There won't be peace in Sri Lanka if you're supporting a side at war with the other.
Embrace Open-Mindedness!
@Spence Throwing around the word "genocide" ignores the decades-long history of terrorist violence by the LTTE. Do a little more reading on the matter. The views expressed on here are fairly moderate.
Regardless, the LTTE have no business bringing ethnic conflict from the other side of the planet to Canada. Do you think Sinhalese community feels safe living in this city?
What's with this 'our' and 'they' stuff, Bill? What about Canadians who happen to be ethnically Tamil? Surely they fit somewhere in your spectrum, no?
One of the most revealing things about the response to these protests, for me, is that it's shown how many people really do see a distinction between 'real' (read: white) Canadians and 'visitor' Canadians. In Toronto, no less. We're not even close to has kumbaya as we think we are!
The response to this and other minority unrest issues continues to be ripe for insight into the true nature of our 'mosaic'. It ain't so pretty.
This may be the best way to get suburbanites not to bring their damned mini-vans into my city.
LTTE's previous and current actions and tactics are, in my opinion, a separate issue from the issue of genocide. You seem to be suggesting that the LTTE's actions have justified the genocide of Tamil civilians. That's a dangerous suggestions.
And if there are any words being thrown around irresponsibly here it is the word "terrorist." The Sri Lankan govt's tactics are nothing short of terrorist - but they're the ones with a monopoly of power so they're excused from the accusations. It astonishes me how quickly people forget that Nelson Mandela, Gandhi, Bobby Sands (to name a few) were once dismissed as terrorists and are now leading symbols of peace and human rights.
Again. This is a small price to pay if there is even an iota of evidence that genocide is occurring. It's hard to know though because the Sri Lankan government has restricted international media access.
When certain members of our multicult society blackmail others because of strife in their homeland, that's a problem. The Tiger supporters were given wide berth last week on University, much more than any other group of protesters considering they didn't have a permit and blocked hospital row, and now they storm the Gardiner using children to stave off the police. WTF??? Who are these maniacs and why can't they write letters and call their MP's like the rest of us.
Man i get it the highway is blocked but suck it up. I'm not tamil but we need to show everyone that this is bad and we can't stand here and do nothing. TAMIL TIGERS ARE NOT A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION. because they want independence so i'm guessing the states were a terrorist organization before they seperated and every other country. Some of you are idiots think before you make stupid comments. Why should you care you have a comfy house to live in when ppl are dieing.
Some goon on CP24 said that traffic disturbances will continue until the Canadian goverment addresses the genocide.
my comment was a joke based on the fact that the tamils are stealing the job of clogging up the Gardiner from the surbanites who seem to do it so well...
but in all honesty, does that spoke person think the threats on our roads will get us canadians to pressure our government? isn't that the same tactic the terrorists use?
Can someone refer me to a site where I can donate money to whoever the hell is fighting the Tamils. I have a big donation for them to finish the job. No ONE cares what is happening to the Tamils. No one here does. They are nothing but terrorists who have been waging a civil war in Sri Lanka. They are the scum of the earth.
Seriously? Everyone knows they are nothing terrorists. Only terrorists would bring little children to an illegal protest to act as a human shield. What a bunch of animals.
Your comments do nothing but prove that these protests are entirely necessary to raise awareness about what is going on. You're ignorant and a bigot.
You, and a lot of the other people on this thread, are saying things that ("what a bunch of animals" for example from your own post) that express the root causes of human rights abuses and genocide.
You insist on mythologizing others and degrading them to animals - thereby not only allowing, but encouraging, human rights abuses. You should hope that you never face a situation like this, and if you do that other people will be more sympathetic.
I think by your non-caring attitude towards people who are dying you just proved that you too are part of the scum of the earth. Oh and they don't want your dirty money... they want your support. "Everyone knows they are nothing terrorists", no actually some thinking people know they are people protesting for humanity. So buddy, keep your money and get some heart!
agsin - "ingorant", "bigot" - but no facts, just "root causes", not a word about Our Canadian Government listing Tamil Tigers as a terrorist organization...
yeah but our canadian government does a lot of other things too that are questionable. Oh and if you want facts, check out amnesty.com, they should have enough facts for you.
Actually. I addressed that issue in a earlier post. The people facing the brunt of the attacks in Sri Lanka are innocent civilians (non-combatants). The status of the Tamil Tigers at terrorist has little to do with the human rights abuses that are occurring.
Why can this debate not move beyond terrorism??
That's the Canadian way, which makes living in Canada such a pleasure unlike Sri Lanka. We don't do child shields here. We don't block hospital routes. So I'd like to be left out of this conflict- I support a different agenda and the Tamil Tigers aren't on it. Our society is built on mutual respect, so yeah, get a permit, sit in a park, write some letters and make some calls like the rest of us.
i think you've missed the point "seriously". Yeah they used child shield, waved terriorist flags and block hospital routes and that is definitely not the best way to go but they protesting against a human injustice and I dearly hope that humanity and compassion are on your agenda. Sri Lanka was pleasurable place to live and everyone is hoping that it can be returned to that glory. Mutual respect is what these people have demanded but their cries fell on deaf ears. They circulated petitions and wrote letter, I have signed a multiple of these letter but obviously they never got anywhere.
Very disappointed about how Toronto handled the protesters terrorizing Toronto tonight...
So now we all know, it takes only a few thousands people (mainly students) to take over the City...pretty depressing
No leadership or guts around here, just another proof..
You have no compassion for the bus passangers (women & children) BURNT ALIVE in Tamil Tigers attacks?
I think it's fair to say that there were brutal killings on both sides of the war but who cares which side did it, people died and a life is a life no matter whose it is.
Is that what you're on about, Bill? Compassion?
I never would have guessed.
This whole thing makes me want to move somewhere far, far away from other people, be they majority, minority or whatever. The vitriol in this society isn't too far below the strained smiles on the surface.
I support some decisions, however, others I feel should be reconsidered or atleast modified. Let's get this clear not everyone at the protest was in support of the LTTE, (yes there were flags but notice how not everyone was holding one) many people were supporting peace but everyone is being considered a supporter of the LTTE. I think spence is right, let's move beyond the terrorist angle.
Tamils = terrorists, cowards, criminals.
Spence go to Sri Lanka and fix the problem yourself if you care so much, maybe take some kids with you to protect yourself.
Everyone always rips Western countries and culture, but these same fuckers are always the first ones to whine when the West doesn't help them out.
Support the Toronto Police. These guys deserve it, they shouldn't have to put up with this bullshit.
Making innocents suffer for another's cause is very terroristy. Why is this conflict more special than all the others around the world that aren't sponsored by terrorists.
A brilliant economist, but no that would be myself, anon. I mean Toronto's precious gradiner is now free of peace protesters.
Quite the opposite actually. I have nothing but compassion for any of the civilians affected by the fighting. I don't support the Tactics of the Tamil Tigers; and for the same reasons I don't support the human rights abuses being carried out by the Sri Lankan gov't. Abuses of human rights are abuses plain and simple - regardless of who enacts them.
The recent protests are shedding light on an issue that would otherwise be out of the realm of public discourse - for this reason the protests are good.
well let's change that equation
TAMILS= peace supporters, future professionals, activists
This conflict is not necessarily more special than others, but it's revolutionary in the fact that it has caught the attention (and yes i noticed not the sympathy) of so many people worldwide. Maybe, if the world is more aware of these mishaps, they can one day be avoided
So the livelihood of the city is an acceptable sacrafice for this cause? What about every other cause in the world? Should we allow any group with a half-decent cause to take the city hostage?
A few of you talk about being surrounded by small selfish people but you only want us to help your cause. Will you act out to help the homeless or the diseased, orphaned babies or victims of rape? Will you urge the government to do more for the victims of natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, or acts of terrorism like 9/11? Will you act to help the starving in third world countries?
You will not.
How dare you accuse us of being heartless when it's only YOUR CAUSE at issue. You give a DAMN about even half the tragedies in the world before you get up on your high horse. Until then go FCUK yourself.
i thought this portion of the blog was for the sri lankan crisis, but indeed i think you fill in other sections that all the causes you have mentioned are also supported
Your attitude begs everybody to do nothing about anything. This world has made its most magnificent advances because some people have taken up a single cause and fought for it with everything they had. If they had taken it all on nothing would be accomplished.
You can keep your excuses to sit around watching tv if that's what makes you happy.
Wow, how can you people even try to play the racist card? I don't think it would matter what the colour of skin was, if the Toronto FC fans shut down the highway until they got a winning team or the Leafs we still wouldn't tolerate this. Cause it's the Law. I'm also sick of the supporters saying "I don't think you understand how many innocent people are getting killed."
Trust me! We Get it, and YES it sucks. My family came here from Lithuania when times were rough for us. While here we watched on the news as the Russians were slaughtering us. At no point did we say "hey, let's shut down the highway cause these people don't seem to get it. WE GET IT, SHUT UP! All these demands from the supporters is "ASK Canada." But even if we do ask Canada to do something and Sri Lanka doesn't listen, it's still not good enough for you. I think the only way you people would be satisfied is if we attacked them for not listening.
So even if the Liberals help like they promised, if it doesn't do anything what will you do to stop the "peaceful hostage" situations you cause. If you shut down Pearson airport cause us demanding a seize fire didn't work, does it make sence? Can you guys provent a economy in a recession from functioning so that we send soldiers to over throw the governament? If I went on a HWY to protest something I believed in could I get mad if the police used force to remove me? What if 2000 squegy Kids and homeless did the same thing? Should we devote housing space for them so that they arn't cold during the winter?
I'm not a supporter of Gas'em, but come on. I have a feeling this is just a taste of things to come. Are they gunna shut down a Jays game against a american team so the US also helps the cause? Holding us hostage is the best way to cause a civilian break down. It seams like there is a lot of Canadians who don't support these protest methods, there are some screwed up people on the streets. Please don't take it to the point where you have Citizens coming after you cause we get sick of it. What this City or even Country does not need is for the people who live here and pay the ridiculous amount of taxes (I wasn't born here and payed close to $20,000 in taxes, but hey I'm a canadian citizen now got to respect your way of life)to take matters into our hands cause the governement is scared that they'll be labelled as rasicist with their remarks.
If you try a more extreme measure cause this one didn't work, then you deserve whatever force is used against you.
Cynthia I love the way you think/talk give me your number lets go out and have a bite to eat or watch a movie =D.
Story picked up by CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/05/10/canada.tamilprotest/index.html
Oh and about the Tamils, I happen to agree on certain points presented by all here. Not sure about the connection with the tigers and where thats suppose to take them. Not sure about shutting down the highway on mothers day. But I do feel for victims of civil wars having been one to experience one myself. Could we be more sympathetic, yes. Will they get it from the majority of people this way, sadly no. By the way did I mention I really want to take Cynthia out! =D I Love you all PEACE.
Tear gas!!!
why the hell didnt they use any?
This is shameful for the police force of toronto.
I think street justice is in order to stop these damn noise tamil tigers from taking over our city again.
I have a tamil friend and she told me that the tamil tiger boys at her highschool used to taunt her and her family for not giving charity to their organizations, and these taunts weren't nice. they attempted to ruin her reputation by calling her a slutt; oh how old fashioned it may be, but apparently women enjoying themselves is a big deal in their culture.
anyways, i think street justice is in order to solve this problem if the police won't do anything to stop these protests.
i mean, COME ON, why can't 'em tigers protest at queenspark or in public square like nathan philip square (or, how awful it maybe, mel lastman's square). Why does mel lastman deserve a square named after him, he has a store and a fucking public square? COME ON NOW, THAT’S TOO MUCH! They can demonstrate how important their cause is in a public square and can show their solidarity in front of the Canadian public, media and politicians without causing a ruckus. Imagine the headlines for a moment that could stem from such actions: 2000 protestors at queens park calling for the government to condemn the ‘genocide’. But no, these headlines will never exist; they insist on causing havoc on our existence and now they will just generate resentment from headlines like: “tamil tigers block major highway, costing billions of dollars from police overtime dues; 24 cops injured”. “tamil protestors now threaten to take the city’s water supply hostage if the liberal party doesn’t send mr. ignatiffe’s aid to sir lanka to broker a peace deal” or “tamil tigers use ‘child-shields’ to prevent police from deploying teargas and clearing up major transportation artery”.
There is no where to go but down for this movement, they lost a lot of support of the Canadian people. And if these fuckers want to hold us hostage again, I really think we should show the people of the world what a dose of ‘Toronto the Good’ street justice can do: the good old fashion beat downs we can deliver to show them our solidarity that we had enough of this.
i so agree with you.
well articulated, and CNN seems to be reporting that only 300 people died from shelling and not the 6000 that 16 year old was scream about on CP24.
But God damn it, i had enough of these people. Somebody, tell them to take a chill pill, the people of darfur have been suffering the genocide longer then they have and if anyone deserves genocide aid its those dafur people, not these highway blocking, loud chanting, flag waving douche bags. please, stop threatening to reoccupy the highway if you do not get your way; do you guys collectively constitute the existence of a spoiled three year old?
p.s: before people start calling me a racist, i can't be a racist because i think MIA has a nice ass.
Tamil Protests Shut Down the Gardiner...
QUICK - Increase the speed limit on the highway!
Seriously folks... Seems that the authorities allowed this to happen. Why? That way, in the future, legitimate organized protests will no longer be allowed in this city. That way, CONTROL will be the order of the day.
See why these Tamil protests are allowed to drag on and on?
Let's encourage them to return to their homeland and sort out their mess over there. Give us peace on our streets and our highways for a change.
what's with all the comments on here saying that "THEY lost the respect of Canadian people" ... first of all a lot of those protesters are Canadian people, second the majority of people that are pissed of about this are a couple of Toronto suburbanites whose day got a bit fucked up cuz they couldn't get back home in time to watch Family Guy ... so you had to spend a couple of hours sitting in traffic, stop being so outraged about it, no one else in Canada gives a shit
i think that poster is referring to both this and the other incidents which this further incident literally put the last-nail in the coffin for many of us. Prior to this little mess, the tamils blocked downtown traffic and cost millions of dollars in police over time. I commuted those days they blocked the US consulate on the TTC and it was a mess. It is not so much that they caused an inconvenience for surbanites that brothers me, but rather that they believe they have the right to hold us hostage to their demands.
I think i agree that i with the posters you commented on, but i think its not my respect for them i lost, it is just my sympathies.
Call City Hall, your MPPs, your MPs and tell them to make a quick and swift law in this city, province and our country to make it illegal for anyone to possess a Tamil flag.
Canada has been a relatively peaceful country but look at what's happening. These immigrants, many illegal, are bringing their war, their problems, their way of thinking on our soil! They are sissies. They don't want or are too lazy to go back to their land, roll up their sleeves and fight like real men instead of looking like ninnies on tv. Once, if ever, their war is resolved, then bury your dead, heal your wounded and reflect on how life was so good here in Canada. DON'T COME BACK, but rebuild a peaceful nation and only then you can give yourselves a group hug, ninnies included.
Right now, Canadians just want to give you guys a swift kick in the butt to hurry out of our peaceful city, province and nation. Bye bye.
i think it should be clarified that there are two flags: the flag of the LTTE and the flag of the tamil eelam.
the difference between the two is that the flag of the LTTE has tamil writing on it.
carrying a tamil eelam flag is taking a stance to support a tamil state separate from sri lanka, not necessarily a stance supporting the LTTE.
yeah you lost your sympathy ... I on the other hand congratulate them for having balls. I'm white and Canadian and sometimes I think it's pathetic how lazy and blaze the rest of my fellow Canadians have become. This is what democracy is all about, getting out there and making your voice heard.
And I wonder (and this actually an honest question) were you this outraged when more than 250 farm tractors blockaded Highway 401 in 2005? That illegal demonstration was perpetrated by mostly white farmers who were discontent with several gov't policies, did you loose your sympathy for the farmers too?
I care for our farmers because their issues, especially the fact they contribute to canadian society through food production, is important to me. the farmers with their tractors did not lose my sympathy because their protest was targeted at its right and our government owes it to its people, and its farmers, to make sure our food supply is secure, safe and sustainable.
the tamils on the other hand are not asking for better living conditions for their diasporic community in toronto, instead they want to take hostage the interest of the canadian people in order to force us to take sides in a complicated and protracted civil war that is colored with highly complicated shades of grey. This is on the assumption that we can even intervene in Sir Lanka, which we probably shouldn't and can't.
my position on the farmer/tiger protest is simple: minority interests should not take democracy hostage.
I find it amazing how the hordes of protesters got onto the Gardiner in the first place. this blog details the ascent up the Spadina ramp quite well. And this photo appears to show a protester grabbing one of the police bicycles, about to toss it over the guardrail.
It's interesting to note that the cops on bikes were the first ones to get to the scene. They must have had a hard time containing that crowd, which grew in numbers rapidly. I applaud the Toronto police for their exercising restraint. This could've easily gotten very, very ugly.
This is the photo I'm referencing in my comment above. It's the 11th photo in the series on the website I referenced above.
I can't believe cops were screaming and yelling at bystanders and drivers to get out of the way, as if the public should part the fucking sea to make way for this ridiculous seizure of public space.
How many Tamils do they think this flag-waving is going to save? They're only bringing negative attention to themselves... not to mention set a precedent for any group with a grievance to lay seizure to our city's public arteries. Canada has become a doormat.
I don't think Canadians are lazy - we understand that rallying in the streets is not the most intelligent or effective way to make change.
Just because Canadians aren't chomping at the bit to make a public spectacle out of themselves, doesn't mean they lack passion. Of course, there WAS the 20,000+ person weed march, lol lol.
I see some Tory Boy twitterers are trying to stick it to Ignatieff this morning. Iggy's assistant only promised to "raise the issue" in Parliament (I doubt he said "support it") and in return we don't have a complete clusterfuck this morning. Well done Team Iggy - Tories were doing f*** all to resolve it because Toronto's too smart to elect a Harper drone. (Note am not Liberal voter/member)
What, exactly do they want Canada to do? "Raise the issue?" And then what? Are we supposed to fire off a sternly worded diplomatic letter to both sides of the conflict and ask them to stop? Are we supposed to get deeper involved? Do they want US Peacekeepers to be inserted into the middle of a civil war? What then? The moment a Peacekeeper (or a Canadian or American soldier) accidentally shoots an innocent bystander the protests will return and we will be branded a bunch of racist murderers.
Ah the Tamils are starting terrorist action now. Threatening the city with shut down over issues that have nothing to do with the city until their demands are met. Interesting. Using babies as human shields, I hope Child Protection Services are watching.
Let's remember that the Black tigers started aggression with suicide bombings. Right now I see the Sri Lankan government defending itself against this continuing threat. Of course there is calls for a ceasefire, they are loosing the war they started.
It's a sad situation and I don't want our country to be dragged in due to interior terror pressure. Once closing the roads becomes common place and not visible enough will our local tamils step things up to get attention ?
Next time a tamil tiger flag is seen there should be arrests, after all it's recognized here as a terrorist organization.
This just in: In civil wars, innocent people get caught up and die.
It always sucks. But so long as both sides are willing to die for their cause, or send others to die on their behalf, peace isn't going to happen (until one side is wiped out or surrenders). Tamil Tiger supporters could be calling for their side to lay down their arms, which would go a long way to ending the Sri Lankan military response, logically. But they feel their cause remains worth fighting for. So, they have to take their share of the responsibility for the resulting civilian deaths. You can't have it both ways. If innocent people die because you choose to fight, you are to blame regardless of what the other side does.
Also, Tamil Tiger supporters, like it or not, the LTTE's use of terrorist tactics resulting in the murdering of scores of innocent people (especially suicide bombers) means that you ARE a terrorist organization. If the protesters denounced the Tigers while supporting peace, I think the response would be quite different.
Lastly, Toronto is not Ottawa. If you want your message to be heard by people who actually make a difference in international affairs, go shut down Parliament Hill.
OK, they wanted to raise awareness. I'd say they've done that.
I get the fact that I'd be seriously po'd if my family was in a war zone.
What I don't get is what they want Canada to do. Invade? Talk in the UN? Send a diplomatic note?
I had been very impressed by the organization of the crowds until they blocked off University for several days. With that and the Gardener, my patience is wearing thin.
how can i disable the feature of publishing comments on my facebook each time i comment on blogto? it is a useless feature
ok seriously .... enough is enough.... this useless protest has been dragging on far way too long wasting tax money and such... (which the city doesn't have) I'm sorry to inform them but neither the Can government or the US one is not going to interfere, in such matter its simply not. Guaranteed, that if you go around and ask people if they care... well ill tell you that 99% of none "tamils" simply don't care about their cause, if they were to do this is the US, ha... they'd be in terrorist prison camps.. haha..so they made their point, no one cares, now STOP STOP STOP
If you're not using Facebook Connect than you don't need to worry about it. If you are using it, you should receive a prompt asking you whether you want to publish the comment on Facebook to which you can reply no.
the city should send the tamils people the bill for this.. last time i think it cost the city $100k to pay the police for over time, and that's of course is coming out of our property tax
they should do the protest inside their own restaurants
"...begs everybody to do nothing about anything"
My Attitude begs you to show the merits of your movement and not cry and force me to stop everything in my life, everything I'm working toward, until I believe in what you want me to believe in.
My Attitude is that I shouldn't have to be forced to believe in YOUR cause over every other cause. You talk about accomplishing great things when you devote yourself to one cause, yet you want everyone to be devoted to YOUR cause. Are your tragedies more tragic? Are your peoples lives worth more than my peoples?
If I had to wave the flag of every group to take the streets and DEMAND support and DEMAND my sympathy then and only then would I be trying to "take it all on" and only then would "nothing would be accomplished".
So if you don't understand then don't mislead the meaning of my comments. Frankly it's insulting and makes you look stupid.
"Toronto is not Ottawa. If you want your message to be heard by people who actually make a difference in international affairs, go shut down Parliament Hill."
I absolutely agree. An innocent question... are there protests in Ottawa as well? Are there protests in the US? I haven't heard a thing about any other cities/countries being affected by Sri Lankian demonstrations.
Why is Toronto such a target?
because we have sissy cops and sissy politicians who are too busy finding ways to raise more tax
Amazing the amount of racism that surfaces is when "other" Canadians try to invoke the democracy. Awareness and action are the issues here, the Tamil community wouldn't have to take such drastic protests if Canadian politicians weren't protecting the interests of big business who want to develope valuable Tamil land. Of course we don't hear about that, all we hear is that Tamil Tigers are a terrorist front. They're wouldn't be any Tamil Tigers if eastern Sri Lanka would've been properly helped after Hurricane Katrina. Instead, we hear about the average Canadian being annoyed along University and the tax costs of all these police officers being paid OT to supervise this. Makes me sick!
What if I took my baby to block your car or bike every morning?
Would you cave and support my cause? What if everyone did that?
It's only an annoyance afterall.
Jameson I know one Sri Lankan who is a friend of mine that has lost an Uncle in the late 80's during an Black Tiger suicide strike against an economic target.
Just saying. Also very liberal use of the word racism.
Jameson....please get the facts straight prior to spooting off nonsense. Hurricane Katrina struck the gulf coast of the US NOT Sri Lanka...buy a map
This is ludacris. Hey, Canadian Immigration Officers when you allow people to immigrate to this country can you screen them for the dumb gene. Lets face the real issues that Canada is facing like the current economic situation and the lack of jobs for upcoming graduates. Whats more we're a peaceful country not one that is going to random wars across the world. The Hutus, Tutsis and Columbians are dying too. At least they realize why they left their country for a better life. Shame on you Sri Lanka!!! You make Canadians look bad.
I was shocked to see on the news that the protesters brought children along.
ENDANGERING the lives of CHILDREN, during an ILLEGAL protest? The protesters are nothing more than terrorists to their own children on our soil.
Didn't Canada just increase humanitarian funding to Sri Lanka a week ago? I'd say in this time of recession, debt, and defecit, giving money to other countries is a huge effort. What else is Canada supposed to do?
I would rather my Canadian tax dollars provide aid to the Canadian people.
These Tamils thugs are showing us their true color. High-jacking our streets and highways, they simply do not care about others.
What will these thugs do next, demanding a separate home land in Scarborough?
1 - Why the municipal disruption? If the Canadian government is their intended audience, why not protest at Parliament Hill? Or, locally, at Queen's Park? Blocking the Gardiner/DVP, and spending days in front of the U.S. embassy makes no sense.
2 - Toronto is made entirely of immigrants. We come from around the world. The only reason I'm here is because terrorism, fascism and, yes, genocide, forced my grandparents to move to a new continent. A few decades later, a military dictatorship forced my father to, again, move to another continent. I consider myself Canadian first and foremost and don't expect my local government to interject into political affairs abroad. I find it odd that anyone would have that sense of entitlement, or how they think that would work.
Is your cause 25 years of civil war, culminating in weeks of unrelenting shelling by both sides in an area underserviced by doctors and hospitals, from which journalists and most aid organizations are now banned? Because then, yes, I would get your point.
To the people commenting on the cost of extra policing: we have overtime cops working Richmond Street and the neighbourhood around the Drake every weekend, policing drunk people who get in fights. Every weekend. That costs you hundreds of thousands of tax dollars annually, so please make sure to write your politicians about that, too. You wouldn't want to seem racist, after all.
I question the motivations of this group of protesters. If you read their signs and listen to their chants it becomes clear that this is not so much a demand for a cease-fire but a show of support for the Tigers. Claiming their leader as Velupillai Prabhakaran shows a loyalty to the Tigers and not merely a concern for the civilians. The signs demand a separate homeland as the only solution not good-faith talks and compromise. They seem more like they are seeking to save the Tigers since one can only imagine that once they are defeated the Sri Lankan army has no more need to be shelling. It has been said by some of the top-level Tigers who have given themselves up that the Tiger strategy is to hold on, hoping that foreign powers will intercede and allow them time to regroup.
How can anyone expect that a government that has been fighting a 20 year war would acquiesce just when they are on the verge of victory? Won't ever happen.
I do wonder why these people protesting don't go back to Sri Lanka and take up arms or political means if they are so concerned. They want the safety of Canada so they can make noise, they want the nation to exert political pressure to get them what they want, they expect us to put up with the disruption to our lives for their cause but they aren't going to Sri Lanka to make a difference. And after breaking our laws they want to deride our country, the country they swore an oath to. Just seems curious.
because toronto is the only city in canada that actually has people walking on the street(sometimes).. the other cities are pretty much dead, so they can't disrupt traffic.. Ottawa, lol, too cold to do this.. if it was -25C outside, you wouldn't see any of these protesters... btw, did our premier buy the protesters coffee and snack? so why weren't the taser guns used if it was used in the vancouver airport?
Let us band together and get these disruptive protesters off of our streets. They are obviously not going to work or school. They are not being anything but a nuisance to society here.
If the city and government refuse to step in or take action- the citizens must.
What can we do?! Anyone have any ideas?
Well, I feel it is important to clarify that the protestors were yelling "our leader - Velupillai Prabhakaran" who is the LTTE leader. It was Velupillai Prabhakaran's friend who incorporated the tiger dreamt up by Prabhakaran as a symbol for the resistance and separate state. So I fail to see the distinction.
The flags are fucking stupid. There is no excusing the employment of children to take up arms.
With that said, LTTE flags being waved seems to have caused open season on all manner of whining and complaining about road closures. When I lived in Vancouver a few years ago, there were protests every other week and one of them shut down a major city street so people could protest the privatization of water services. WATER. If you want to argue the differences between Commercial Drive and The Gardiner, you're missing the point. The amount of complaining about slight inconveniences at that time PALE in comparison to the whinnying over this issue. Oh yeah, this is about genocide.
The way I see it, were there no Tamil Tigers flags being flown above an angry sea of people, a helluva lot of you commenting here would be a lot less critical about having to take a different way home and perhaps get on Sri Lankans' side in petitioning our Government to do something. Anything. But no.
Instead, both sides look like failures. The only saving grace is that Canada is finally listening and sending someone over to Sri Lanka to attempt some form of mediation. Nobody is innocent in all this strife, and it's come down to supporting the lesser of two evils for the purpose of ENDING all of this brutal violence. But instead of being constructive on this extremely grey-area issue, you're whining about the lack of organization, road closures and aimless wandering appearance of the protesters. Simon Cowell couldn't sound more nit-picky.
So don't worry folks, stories of mass amounts of people being blown into oblivion will die down and your drive home will be nice and smooth soon enough, no thanks to your NIMBYism. What an embarrassment.
The flags are fucking stupid. There is no excusing the employment of children to take up arms.
With that said, LTTE flags being waved seems to have caused open season on all manner of whining and complaining about road closures. When I lived in Vancouver a few years ago, there were protests every other week and one of them shut down a major city street so people could protest the privatization of water services. WATER. If you want to argue the differences between Commercial Drive and The Gardiner, you're missing the point. The amount of complaining about slight inconveniences at that time PALE in comparison to the whinnying over this issue. Oh yeah, this is about genocide.
The way I see it, were there no Tamil Tigers flags being flown above an angry sea of people, a helluva lot of you commenting here would be a lot less critical about having to take a different way home and perhaps get on Sri Lankans' side in petitioning our Government to do something. Anything. But no.
Instead, both sides look like failures. The only saving grace is that Canada is finally listening and sending someone over to Sri Lanka to attempt some form of mediation. Nobody is innocent in all this strife, and it's come down to supporting the lesser of two evils for the purpose of ENDING all of this brutal violence. But instead of being constructive on this extremely grey-area issue, you're whining about the lack of organization, road closures and aimless wandering appearance of the protesters. Simon Cowell couldn't sound more nit-picky.
So don't worry folks, stories of mass amounts of people being blown into oblivion will die down and your drive home will be nice and smooth soon enough, no thanks to your NIMBYism. What an embarrassment.
Then I should expect you to be out on the highway for every other tragedy like this?
Believe or not support for this conflict is based on a personal level. People at large do not support causes because they qualify as worthy on paper somewhere, most people support it because it touches them in a personal way.
You cannot ask everyone to care about every tragedy you deem worthy, let alone force them. You cannot tell them which lives are more worthy of helping.
Talk about an event that brings new meaning to the term women and children first!
My heart goes out to those facing the harsh day-to-day life in the war in Sri-Lanka. I live in a country free from these conditions and I am thankful for it every day. There must be a better way to demonstrate without pissing off residents of the city. You are going to turn the population against your cause if you keep shutting down infrastructure like what happened yesterday. Also, not everyone is going to get behind your cause because of your association with what Canada deems a terrorist organization. If people walked down the streets blatantly supporting Al Qaeda what do you think will happen?
I hope that the situation in Sri Lanka is brought to a peaceful resolve. Canada can only do so much - we've alerady given you a free and safe country to live in that has given you everything you need to prosper. You're welcome.
thanks for the lecture Justin...I'm glad you are "all-knowing" in regards to why people are upset about the protestors. I must be crazy but I think most people are upset that women and children were placed at the front of the line, not because of the traffic disruptions. Most of us hate what is going on in Sri Lanka. But you would know better than I...please continue your self-righteous diatribe. However, the Simon Cowell comment is a bit silly and shows your true intellectual colours.
ps...don't trip over the NIMBYism on your way out...
ok...since when did it become Canada's job to become principal, and decide what gov't and what terrorist org to support or make demands upon.....Whine about road closures?....petty yes, however when in rome, you know the rest.....it's a wonderful thing to immigrate to a new safer place, but the will of the minority cannot outway the democratic whole, therefore,get the F@@@ off the gd highway.And while you're at it, leave the kids home too, don't put them anywhere near the front of the line and certainly never bring them into a crowd physcology situation....hey, and yes the terrorost flag thing is big, it shows support for one side, the terrorist .....by choosing a side you negate peace especially when both sides are wrong, you support conflict....Canada is a peace keeper and when called upon will fight the good fight,but there are only so many fights in a boxer, sometimes you kinda have to fight yourself and not play armchair rebel demanding others to do it for you....
Yeah, because referencing a whiny tv bitch shows 'true colours'... whatever that means.
Are you reading these comments at all? They're complaining about traffic, not women and children being mixed in with a crowd of people ascending a rampway. I wouldn't for a second take away the point that this is another in a long line of misguided moves to stir up public awareness, but this "most of us" you're speaking of doesn't seem to point out anyone in particular aside from yourself.
Nobody here DOESN'T hate what's going on in Sri Lanka; you're arguing against a point that wasn't brought up. I'm simply saying that the reaction to TRAFFIC being slowed has crossed over into infantile territory.
And you're welcome.
oh justin...did I hurt your feelings...so sorry. I just hate being lectured to by arm-chair intellectuals...my bad.
Probably counter-demonstrations but they should be organized by a grassroot/Internet movement like the tea protests in the US.
View More Events
Suggest an Event
Join the blogTO Flickr group
Join the blogTO YouTube Group
RSS
