A group of the usual suspects occupied an Enbridge construction site in north Toronto today. Protesting the Line 9 reversal project, the protesters claimed that Enbridge was jumping the gun on construction. Enbridge claims this was a maintenance project- something anti-pipeline protesters often complain the company doesn’t do enough of. Are we confused yet?
The one day occupation consisted of about 20 people. There were a few new faces in the crowd, but it was basically the same group of anarchists, professional protesters and religious extremists we see at every other event like this. That said, something was different today- there was a sense rot, lost momentum, and perhaps a dying movement?
G20 Ringleader Alex Hundert
Your Humble Narrator was met at the gate today by a character well known to this site’s readers. Alex Hundert was one of the ringleaders convicted and incarcerated for his part in organizing the violence during the Toronto G20. Hundert warned not to cross the line into their territory, he then explained how he didn’t believe the police would arrest the protesters because that would only make the police look bad.
Taylor “Pottymouth” Flook showing off the pizza…
There were two people at the protest who have the Love Is The Movement tattoo. Taylor “Pottymouth” Flook (whose sister also has the tattoo) was walking around quietly, and seemed quite pleased when some generous person sent them all some pizza. The other was Dave Vasey, head of the now defunct Occupy Toronto, and lifelong professional protester. Vasey is also a pizza fan.
Dave Vasey says “pizza is the movement!”
Following their well worn path of environmentalists exploiting indigenous voice, the activists recruited two native women as their spokespeople. The first, Vanessa Grey, is a professional protester who’s often seen at occupations and blockades. The other was Amanda Lickers, one of the most distasteful activists in Ontario- and probably most well known for making up a fake story about an indigenous grave site at a Vermont university and tearing up a memorial to the 9/11 dead.
Of course, no Toronto occupation would be complete without anti-miningIsrael activist Sakura Saunders on site- she was being camera shy today though, hiding behind the construction materials. Her husband, and purveyor of cheap plastic trinkets, Darius Mirshahi was alongside her- luckily, we were all saved from having to listen to his anti-capitalist (c)rap.
No meeting full of hardcore and violent anarchists would be complete without the obligatory Quaker on site! Fulfilling their quota, Hundert and Saunders were joined in solidarity by Lyn Adamson- who, get this, teaches people how to engage in non-violent protest. Adamson has explained why she works with violent criminals – and the answer will knock you off your socks – but you’ll have to stay tuned for that story.
There was one interesting new character today, albeit from an organization readers will remember has a long and incestuous relationship with the anarchist community. Paul Costello of the Council of Canadians worked with Hundert and other protesters, and put up a sign from the charitable organization Environmental Defence (notice how the anarchist’s sign is the same design).
Paul Costello of the Council of Canadians
Some of the protesters locked themselves to a large Caterpillar backhoe with bike locks- including (as a police officer described) a man with a broken hand. The locks were only theatre though, the protesters unlocked themselves and went home at the end of the day.
Such a beautiful day to stay chained to a Caterpillar…
Unlike most protests, there were few chants, no marching, and very little going on at this one. With such a small crowd present it’s not really a surprise, and it seems that the crowd is getting a little smaller with each stunt the usual suspects try to dazzle us with. That’s probably because each protest is less dazzling then the last, and most Torontonians don’t really care about Line 9.
Summing up today’s protest in one word- it came across as masturbatory…
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for the sake of clarity and fairness…
greg, your suggestion that yesterday’s numbers were a reflection of anti-line9 (or broader movement) sentiment/momentum are miscalculated. there were the number of people on site required to safely shut down the construction site for the day and to get the message out about why it was happening, no more. there were no chants and such because it was not a rally, it was a direct action. as for the rest of your assertions about the character of the brave ppl involved in resistance movements, your are entitled to your opinion so long as ppl dont feel that they are being harassed, bullied, stalked or intimidated by you. best of luck w your book–i cant wait to read it.
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Alex,
The reality of the situation is that most Torontonians don’t give a damn about Line 9. Even the biggest rallies are packed with the same old crowd of socialists, anarchists, religious extremists, and tag-alongs. The crowd at the last rally at the convention centre looked a whole lot like the May Day parade.
Why is that? Because most people in this city don’t care…
As for the allegations you make against me, they’re absurd- particularly from people who hold and attend protests in front of people’s homes. I attend public protests and report on them to the public just as any other journalist would do. If you don’t like the fact I report that these protests are always run by the same old crowd, perhaps it’s time for you all to show use that people do care and recruit some new faces.
But, once again, most Torontonians don’t give a rats ass about Line 9- and they certainly don’t want to work with people who promote the use of violence…
Apologies for the cross-posting, but It’s time for an update on the defunct Pidgin picket and the chaos engineered by Wendy Pedersen and CCAP in Vancouver.
Not-Homeless Dave’s so-called hunger strike lasted 30 days with time out for snacks at Carnegie. It achieved nothing and has been forgotten by everybody.
The Cuchillo restaurant picket was invented by Wendy and her Carnegie pals in an effort to create momentum. Wendy and Jean overplayed their hand and guess what? The Cuchillo picket turned out to be stillborn DOA. A big flop that embarrassed the girls and amused the boys. Even Tami Fakelastname was pissed. It’s over totally over. Didn’t last two weeks.
The Pidgin restaurant picket was invented at CCAP by Wendy, Jean and Ivan, although once their money was threatened they pretended that it was all somebody elses idea. The Pidgin picket died over a month ago, they just gave up one night and said nothing and now they pretend it was a big success even though it just petered out in the chaos that follows Pedersen everywhere.
Everyone knows the people who actually live at Pigeon Park totally ignored the picket. It took Wendy and her pals a while to figure it out but that was what killed it. The people in the DTES ignored them. They never had more than nine people walk the line and half of them live out of the hood and finally even the fanatics gave up. The Pidgin picket has been dead for weeks. No one even noticed.
Wendy, Jean and Ivan did achieve one thing. Because of the Pidgin picket they got kicked out of the DENC. And now its run by people who will not be bullied by fanatics.
It was all a ride to nowhere and now it’s dead.
These people are nothing but professional protesters who double as urban terrorists. I have to wonder when was the last time these so called ‘ activists ” actually did an honest days work . People like Hundert are just there to bully and intimidate the public and anyone else who questions their motives and legitimacy , and then cry oppression when they are outed as the low life criminals and terrorists they really are . I can only that law enforcement and the various security services are keeping these people under a really powerful microscope and , i personally look forward to see them getting hauled away in handcuffs to get extended stays at the various crowbar hotels our government has . Hundert calls these unemployed underachievers , ” brave people ” . that is laughable as there is nothing brave about criminality, only stupidity. My quest to Hundert is, : What do you actually stand for ? he will go into this long diatribe about how he stands to rights and fairness, giving people a voice and all the usual cultist bullshit he and his buddy spew yet, he , and his cohorts clearly demonstrate that fairness and having a voice is exactly what he / they don’t want. A voice and fairness and a voice is to them, the arch enemy. because a voice risks exposing them fro whom and what they are and fairness means that they would risk being at an equal playing field, thus not having an advantage of the masses. I will be writing more about these peopole very shortly and will as always, use their own words to prove the danger level they pose to civilized society.
Sorry about the many typos, my screen went south on me for a bit.
Well the Star continues it’s tradition of cheering on the protesters.
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/12/03/enbridge_pipeline_protesters_locked_to_construction_equipment_to_stop_work.html
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Is it possible that the Star is a little biased in this area? lol
This whole “No consultation, no approval” crap on their signs HOLDS TRUE FOR WIND TURBINES LITTERING MY NEIGHBOURHOOD unwanted. But we citizens don’t go around VANDALIZING private property to make a point.