The Occupy Toronto eviction in photos
Despite fears of violence when police entered St. James Park early yesterday morning to evict the remaining Occupy Toronto protesters, the general consensus is that the removal process couldn't have gone much better. There were a few tense moments and 11 arrests in total, but no injuries and no major confrontations between police and protesters. This was not how it played out in New York City when NYPD officers, many clad in riot gear, stormed into Zuccotti Park to clear Occupy Wall Street protesters. In fact, given the peaceful nature of the day's events, there's considerable talk of the police having restored some of the public's faith that was lost during the G20.
"I'm very proud of the professionalism of city staff & police who took part in ending the protest yesterday," said Mayor Rob Ford in review of the eviction. While the protesters would likely have something to say the notion that the movement is over, many concurred that the officers on hand were, as one occupier put it, "generally decent human beings."
It wasn't only the police who looked to establish some goodwill. Local councillor Pam McConnell announced that Occupy Toronto offered to pitch in $10,000 toward the post-occupation rehabilitation of the park. As for what's next for the protesters, there are plans to return to the park and to City Hall for rallies, but little talk of setting up a new camp elsewhere. One suspects that the end of the occupation itself will take some serious steam out of the movement, but this is also an opportunity for the protesters to show off their resolve by continuing on in another capacity.
Here's how the day unfolded in photos.
Photos by Tom Ryaboi
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