The Toronto Star reports that, “(G20) summit officials have chosen (Trinity Bellwoods Park) as the designated protesting area for the G20 summit on June 26 and 27. That means demonstrators — at least, the rule-abiding ones — will be wielding placards and shouting through megaphones from inside a 37-acre residential park, located some two kilometres west of the summit’s outer boundary, or so-called ‘yellow zone.'”
“Among the groups that have already begun mobilizing, the Ontario Federation of Labour is planning a march to Trinity Bellwoods from Queen’s Park. The march will take place on the Saturday of the summit weekend and includes groups like Greenpeace, Oxfam Canada, the Canadian Labour Congress (and the Council of Canadians).”
“But there will certainly be several demonstrators who choose to steer clear of the designated protesting area, which is three kilometres west of the Metro Convention Centre where world leaders and dignitaries will actually be congregating.”
A Globe and Mail report adds, “Spokeswoman Meaghan Gray says police will be ‘strongly encouraging’ anyone who wants to protest to use the designated zone.”
The yellow zone is reported to be Queen Street, Yonge Street, Lake Shore Boulevard. and Spadina Avenue. There is still no information about the ‘red zone’, the high-security zone that will encircle the convention centre with a three-metre-high fence.
The Toronto Star notes that, “Toronto police have rented an old movie studio at Eastern and Pape Aves. that will likely serve as a prisoner processing area.”
The Council of Canadians will be expressing its concerns about the excessive security measures being planned and the resulting infringement on the basic democratic right of concerned people to be seen and heard when protesting unjust structures and policies.
The full article is at http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/801983–g20-summit-footprint-grows-bigger?bn=1.
