After a failed attempt to corral protesters in Queen Street West’s popular Trinity Bellwoods Park during June’s G20 summit, police have announced that the “designated speech area” will now be located in Queen’s Park North.
The official change of plan came after strong public outcry caused police to move the zone out of Trinity Bellwoods, and led a coalition of labour groups to cancel their plans to march to the park.
Wendy Drummond, of the Integrated Security Unit, said security officials took into consideration feedback from town hall meetings and community groups when exploring other options, and settled on Queen’s Park, which is about 2.7 kilometres from the summit site at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
Earlier Crimbrary reported that the G20 protests would be in Bellwoods Park. Local opposition has resulted in the protest being moved to Queens Park. This is great news for Crimbrary readers. This is across the street from Crimbrary headquarters. I'll try and do a bit of live blogging while dodging taser shots. Tom
3 comments:
Look forward to your coverage. Be careful.
What are the chances? Could get ugly. Bring gas mask to work. If there still is work. If there still is Crimbrary.
Those interested in how police see the relation between speech and the policing of speech will be interested to know that the large lot on Eastern Avenue (formerly the Toronto Film Studio) that has been fenced off in preparation for being turned into a G20 protester detainee centre is considerably larger than the park assigned to the actual protests. And it's not only the lot that has been fenced off -- a very long stretch of public sidewalk, on the south side of Eastern, is behind the concrete and wire mesh fence, so pedestrians have to go on the road.
On the bright side, there are no indications that the G20 protest detainees will be turned over the Afghan National Police.
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