World Against War in Toronto (March 15/08)

These are Photos from Saturday's World Against War rally and march in Toronto. Estimates put the crowd at about one thousand people.

The Freeps made reference to a "phlanax of police officers stood by ominously looking like they were ready to pounce"... Seems like some pretty sensational reporting to me. All I saw was the usual 20 or so bike cops blocking traffic in intersections and trying to keep a lane clear incase an emergancy vehicle needed to pass. Hell, I walked into one of them when I had my face burried in my viewfinder, and the only response it provoked was a "No Problem kid!".

My battery died just as we arrived at Trinity-St. Paul's Church where the indoor rally occured, so I didn't stick around for that.

You'll notice in photo TOAntiWarMarch08_06, a man carries a sign reading "Remember Paul Croutch/ A homeless man/ beaten to death/ in his sleeping bag/ by military/ personnel outside of/ Moss Park Armory/ Queen and Jarvis Streets, Toronto Aug 2006."

This is in refrence to an incident in which three reservists, from the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada based out of Moss Park Armoury in Toronto, are alleged to have beaten Croutch to death. The trial of those three men began today. CBC story

It's worth noting that the armoury and park surrounding it have been the site of numerious actions by Homes Not Bombs calling for the armoury to be transformed into housing for the homeless since at least 2002.

You'll notice this man carries a sign reading "Remember Paul Croutch/ A homeless man/ beaten to death/ in his sleeping bag/ by military/ personnel outside of/ Moss Park Armory/ Queen and Jarvis Streets, Toronto Aug 2006."

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Mike