2010-05-08
Activists planning to protest next month’s G20 Summit said yesterday they will continue to organize demonstrations at various locations throughout the city, despite plans by officials to confine protests to one “designated speech area” in downtown Toronto.
“The demonstrations are about issues and we will talk about these issues where it makes sense,” said Syed Hussan, a spokesman for the Toronto Community Mobilization Network. “It cannot be limited to any kind of one action or one place for action.”
The group said it expects thousands of people to participate in protests, forums and panel discussions during the G20 Summit from June 26 to 27 at the Metro Convention Centre.
World leaders will be in Huntsville, Ont., 180 kilometres north of Toronto, from June 25 to 26 for the G8 Summit.
The meetings are held each year to allow the developed nations around the world to discuss foreign and economic policy.
Hussan said the idea of setting up a designated “free speech” zone is “undemocratic and authoritarian,” the same ideals activists will be picketing against.
“We have a government that is hiding. They want to sell Toronto as this amazing place,” he said. “They want these leaders to see the quality in our communities but obviously they want to hide us, push us out of where we live and work. This is our struggle.”
The Integrated Security Unit had originally chosen Trinity Bellwoods Park in downtown Toronto as the designated zone but rescinded that location on Thursday because of backlash from the local community.
“We had concerns over the number of people who will use the park, the nature of the park, environmental issues,” said spokeswoman Meaghan Gray. “There were a number of concerns that we listened to.”
A new downtown site was expected to be chosen as early as next week.