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Live Coverage: The 'Occupy' movement comes to Canada
Join us Saturday, Oct. 15, as Globe reporters and photographers provide live updates from the "Occupy" demonstrations planned in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary
- #occupytoronto's first overnighter: RT @jesskrol 12 hours til we gather together. Already at bay and queens for the nightby kimmackrael via twitter 10/15/2011 1:28:00 PM
Participants gather on the financial district for Occupy Toronto.(Photo by Peter Power/The Globe and Mail)
- Small group of protesters have started to gather at Bay and King. Some wearing masks, people making posters, lots of media.by CarysMills via twitter 10/15/2011 1:45:49 PM
Things just getting started, a little bit of music but mainly quiet. A mic set up with speakers. p.twimg.com
by CarysMills via twitter 10/15/2011 1:47:33 PM- Here at King and Bay Streets where protesters are meeting for the start of Occupy Toronto. More than 100 around here now. Rolling Stones blasting from loudspeakers in the back of a truck.
Big group of runners going past King and Bay. Lots of cheers, one shout of "Come join us!" by a protester. Organizers have said they have no plans to disrupt tomorrow's marathon.
Signs being made p.twimg.com
by CarysMills via twitter 10/15/2011 1:54:39 PM- Parents Omid and Nancy protesting with their kids, 8 and 2. "People are tired of the rich getting everything," Nancy said.by CarysMills via twitter 10/15/2011 1:59:55 PM
- "It's important for them to know whats going on," protestor Nancy said of bringing her kids, 8 and 2.by CarysMills via twitter 10/15/2011 2:01:19 PM
- Four police officers rode by on bikes at King and Bay but I haven seen much of a police presence otherwise. Security guards across streetby CarysMills via twitter 10/15/2011 2:03:54 PM
- Crowd has got significantly bigger at King& Bay. Mix of young, older, kids and even some babies. No mention of where the group will go yetby CarysMills via twitter 10/15/2011 2:08:57 PM
Crowds are building. More and more slogans appearing. (Photo by Peter Power/The Globe and Mail)
- Pamphlets handed out about what to do it arrested with phone numbers to call and emails. Advises of right to a lawyer, not to sign papersby CarysMills via twitter 10/15/2011 2:11:53 PM
- A woman calling herself Ever ready the Kamikaze Clown sports a burning police car made out of cardboard and "left over from the G20.
Also says people should have a bail hearing within 24 hrs if not released and gives strip search protocol. p.twimg.com
by CarysMills via twitter 10/15/2011 2:14:03 PM
Ever ready the Kamikaze Clown. A passing protester says "this is the only burning cop car you're going to see today."
More literature being passed around at the Occupy Toronto gathering. This is a booklet for street medics with advice on how to handle protest-related injuries. Each of the 10 medics here today has one.
- A few mins ago, a truck drove by and honked. Twice. Lots of cheers from protesters at King and Bay. Most ppl discussing the Occupy movementby CarysMills via twitter 10/15/2011 2:17:09 PM
How to spot a street medic at Occupy Toronto: big red cross on the upper arm. They're carrying water, bandages, and other supplies.
A few police officers in the street now. Mainly smiling and chatting to people now p.twimg.com
by CarysMills via twitter 10/15/2011 2:19:49 PM- Lots of flags, "we are the 99%by CarysMills via twitter 10/15/2011 2:22:27 PM
Oops, sorry about that. Should have said, lots of flags and signs referring to "we are the 99%" mantra p.twimg.com
by CarysMills via twitter 10/15/2011 2:23:35 PM
Crowds are building. More and more slogans appearing. (Photo by Peter Power/The Globe and Mail)
- Lots of people also gathering at the other side of King and Bay now (south east side). Traffic looks slow near the intersection, ppl on Bayby CarysMills via twitter 10/15/2011 2:25:58 PM
- There's a team of as many as 60 to 70 trained legal observers on a roster at Occupy Toronto. They're spelling each other off and preparing to offer protesters legal help in case there are arrests.
Tunes, acoustic style now. p.twimg.com
by CarysMills via twitter 10/15/2011 2:28:33 PM- Mix of messages: stop privatization of water, need a 9/11 investigation, profit driven economy. Remarks now starting before people leaveby CarysMills via twitter 10/15/2011 2:31:11 PM
- "We're going to shut down some streets," a man says over a loudspeaker.
- Person says the people working on Bay street will be able to hear organizers from their office towers. "It's time to take back the money"by CarysMills via twitter 10/15/2011 2:32:55 PM
- Speakers stepping up to a mic at Occupy Toronto. Large crowd here is spilling onto Bay Street, with volunteer protesters trying to keep things contained to a single lane.
- Protesters trying to convince the crowd at Occupy Toronto to use the People's Mic. Instead of a megaphone, speakers split their speech up into a few words at a time. The crowd repeats everything that's said - to make sure everyone can hear.
Protesters here are getting a primer on how to communicate using consensus in a large group.
- If you agree with something, raise your hands and twinkle fingers, organizers say.
- If you disagree very strongly, you can cross your arms in front of your face, organizers say, adding, "Don't use blocks lightly." Protesters at Occupy Toronto use hand signals to help them make decisions as a group.
- The general assembly has now started. After going over rules of the people's mic, how to agree (wiggle fingers) and disagree (cross arms)by CarysMills via twitter 10/15/2011 2:44:32 PM
A sea of protesters sit and stand on the pavement at King and Bay Streets.
- People gathered here at King and Bay Streets asked not to use racist, sexist, ableist language.
- TTC says Bay buses are diverting because of protests. Meanwhile, organizers say they'll create positive space without racism, homophobia...by CarysMills via twitter 10/15/2011 2:46:17 PM
The crowd at Occupy Toronto has completely filled part of Bay Street.
These are just the ppl on the street. I'd say there are hundreds but very difficult to estimate from the centre p.twimg.com
by CarysMills via twitter 10/15/2011 2:49:57 PM
These are the volunteer facilitators at Occupy Toronto. They're asking everyone to turn to neighbors and explain why they're here today.
- TTC just issued a service alert. Six Bay Street buses are diverting around the Occupy Toronto protest in both directions, via Queen, University and Front Streets.
With the caveat that it's very difficult to estimate crowds of this size, Carys and I think there are around 800 people gathered at the corner of King and Bay.
Everyone being asked to sit down now so everyone can hear p.twimg.com
by CarysMills via twitter 10/15/2011 2:58:53 PM- Organizers using the people's mic say the general assembly is bigger than originally thoughtby CarysMills via twitter 10/15/2011 3:02:05 PM
