Live coverage: Police move in to dismantle Occupy Toronto site

From Ha: "Three buses full of police officers parked south of the park on King St., their engines running while other agents on bicycle rode by. "

by Ann Hui 11/23/2011 11:30:28 AM
Protesters affiliated to the the Occupy Toronto movement fortify a pavilion in St.James Park in Toronto on Tuesday November 22, 2011. Chris Young/The Canadian Press

by Ann Hui 11/23/2011 11:32:35 AM
Police PA say they're here to remove tents as per court ruling #OccupyTO

by TuThanhHa via twitter 11/23/2011 11:36:49 AM
Police say homeless to go to shelter on Adelaide. Park to reopen once "rendered safe" #OccupyTO

by TuThanhHa via twitter 11/23/2011 11:37:42 AM
More details from Ha: Police loudspeaker announcement says they are at the park to remove tents, and tells those who are homeless to go to a shelter on Adelaide. The park will be re-opened once "rendered safe."

by Ann Hui 11/23/2011 11:37:52 AM
Television reports show police officers entering the park

by Ann Hui 11/23/2011 11:44:43 AM
Some police enter park, approach gazebo #OccupyTO

by TuThanhHa via twitter 11/23/2011 11:46:33 AM
Scuffle between sonme protester and a man yelling insults at them #OccupyTO

by TuThanhHa via twitter 11/23/2011 11:47:14 AM
"Stay together! Don't run!" protesters chant #OccupyTO

by TuThanhHa via twitter 11/23/2011 11:47:53 AM
For more background info on the Occupy Canada protests, click here.

by Ann Hui 11/23/2011 11:49:53 AM
Uniformed officers are walking around the park with flashlights and peering into tents. Television reports say some of the protesters have chained themselves to tents.

by Ann Hui 11/23/2011 11:51:23 AM
About ten officers standing gazebo. Many protestes bunched together near their tents 15 m away.

by TuThanhHa via twitter 11/23/2011 11:54:13 AM
About half an hour before officers began entering the park, Toronto Police sent out a news release saying that roads around St. James park would be closed. Sections of Jarvis Street, King St. E., and Adelaide St. E. will all be closed until further notice.

by Ann Hui 11/23/2011 11:59:18 AM
From Ha: In one large tent, two protesters barricaded themselves behind logs and wooden pallets.

by Ann Hui 11/23/2011 12:04:37 PM
Toronto Police also advising that vehicles within the road closure area are being relocated.

by Ann Hui 11/23/2011 12:06:10 PM
"We've won! Celebrate!" one protester w/ drum. "This is a historic moment!" two in tent barricaded w/ pallets logs #OccupyTO

by TuThanhHa via twitter 11/23/2011 12:07:09 PM
The Occupy Toronto livestream has over 1,200 viewers right now. About 15 minutes ago, that number was just over 800.

by Ann Hui 11/23/2011 12:10:08 PM
RT @OccupyBayStreet: #OccupyToronto being raided now! @TOMayorFord's cell 416-805-2146. #OWS @OccupyToronto

by occupytoronto via twitter 11/23/2011 12:10:27 PM
City bylaw officers begin tagging and photographing the tents #OccupyTO

by TuThanhHa via twitter 11/23/2011 12:12:06 PM
Bylaw Enforcement officers tagging and logging tents. When they finish pictures, we assume police will step in to remove us. #occTO

by occupytoronto via twitter 11/23/2011 12:13:58 PM
It should be noted that, according to the city's eviction notice, the protesters are allowed to be in the park right now. (The eviction only prevents them from being in the park between the hours of midnight and 5:30 a.m.). Tents, however, are not supposed to be in the park at any time.

by Ann Hui 11/23/2011 12:14:15 PM
From Ha: "Excuse me! Who do you serve!" one agitated man yelled as the officers taped a numbered sheet on his tent. "Mike! Keep your calm" others urged him.

by Ann Hui 11/23/2011 12:16:14 PM
@occupytoronto let's try to understand that @TorontoPolice & bylaw officers are probably stressed too, let's all be kind to each other

by VixRegina via twitter 11/23/2011 12:16:32 PM
"Excuse me! Who do you serve!" agitated man yells as officrs tape numbered sheet on his tent. "Mike! Keep your calm" others say #OccupyTO

by TuThanhHa via twitter 11/23/2011 12:16:37 PM
Protesters in the park singing "We shall overcome"

by Ann Hui 11/23/2011 12:17:02 PM
Protesters tell cops they appreciate officers are wearing name tages #OccupyTO

by TuThanhHa via twitter 11/23/2011 12:18:52 PM
"I would quit my job if I had to do something as reprehensible," another tells cops. "Do you know how many you're making homeless?"

by TuThanhHa via twitter 11/23/2011 12:20:23 PM
"as long as we see some movement in next hour" there will be no intervention, police site cdr Insp Meissner tells protesters #OccupyTO

by TuThanhHa via twitter 11/23/2011 12:35:54 PM
"So far the police have been very polite," says the Occupy Toronto livestream film team, which you can watch at the top of this page. To which the police officer replies: "That's the way we are."

by Affan Chowdhry 11/23/2011 12:36:12 PM
More details from Canadian Press about the police arrival this morning:

Police arrived on three large department buses and other vehicles and none of the officers appeared to be clad in riot gear.

Police were not expected to make any arrests, unless attempts to remove the tents and other structures were met with resistance. Some protesters had said, however, that they planned to resist any attempt to get them to leave.

As of 5 a.m., people were allowed to be in St. James Park under a city bylaw but structures are not allowed on the grounds at any time.

by Affan Chowdhry 11/23/2011 12:36:58 PM
Police enter the Occupy Toronto camp at St. James Park in Toronto Wednesday, November 23, 2011. (J.P. Moczulski for The Globe and Mail)

by Dave Lucas 11/23/2011 12:38:43 PM
Occupt Toronto protester on livestream: "They're taking our tents, but they can't take us."

by Affan Chowdhry 11/23/2011 12:39:10 PM
My first impression is that mood seems almost anticlimactic as cops roll up Occupy. #occupytoronto

by marcusbgee via twitter 11/23/2011 12:39:15 PM
Police look through the Occupy Toronto camp at St. James Park in Toronto Wednesday, November 23, 2011. (J.P. Moczulski for The Globe and Mail)

by Dave Lucas 11/23/2011 12:40:58 PM
Occupy guy says OPSEU union is sending folks to take down Yurt. Asks folks to remove stuff first. 'We are not giving up. We will reoccupy.'

by marcusbgee via twitter 11/23/2011 12:41:57 PM
Occupy protest leader says OPSEU (Ontario Public Service Employee Union) members on way to Occupy Toronto site to help dismantle yurts. He tells protesters:

"If we want to save the yurts and not just to sacrifice it, we need to facilitate this by emptying the contents. I know that this is not desireable. But we don't want to lose them. We're not giving up. We will re-occupy. But we can't lose everything that we've worked so hard to build."

by Affan Chowdhry 11/23/2011 12:42:41 PM
Protester holds conciliatory sign at Occupy. #occupytoronto yfrog.com

by marcusbgee via twitter 11/23/2011 12:45:27 PM
A protester rests as police enter St. James park in Toronto Wednesday, November 23, 2011. (Kevin Van Paassen/The Globe and Mail)

by Dave Lucas 11/23/2011 12:47:13 PM
'This is Canada. This isn't Egypt. This isn't Libya.' - Occupy protester

by marcusbgee via twitter 11/23/2011 12:50:24 PM
'The world is watching. If there's any violence it's coming from you.' - protester

by marcusbgee via twitter 11/23/2011 12:51:21 PM
Toronto Police mark an X in front of a tent in the Occupy Toronto camp at St. James Park in Toronto Wednesday, November 23, 2011. (J.P. Moczulski for The Globe and Mail)

by Dave Lucas 11/23/2011 12:52:48 PM
'Hello, is there anyone in the tent?' asks cop as they move to close down tent. yfrog.com

by marcusbgee via twitter 11/23/2011 12:53:48 PM
'What happened to solidarity?' Protesters appeal to city workers to refuse to move them. 'We'll support you when Ford locks you out.'

by marcusbgee via twitter 11/23/2011 12:56:27 PM
Mood so far seems calm as Occupy roll up continues. #occupytoronto yfrog.com

by marcusbgee via twitter 11/23/2011 1:00:15 PM
Back at the media yurt, there's progress. Nearly empty. #occupyTO p.twimg.com

by niamhsays via twitter 11/23/2011 1:01:17 PM

Live coverage: Police move in to dismantle Occupy Toronto site

Today's Must Reads

Politics Insider

More from The Globe and Mail

Most Popular Stories

More Top Stories

Video

Photos

Add to Watchlist

We've run into a glitch. Please try again later.

We've run into a glitch. Please try again later.