Tamil protesters slow traffic in Toronto core

Tamil protesters slow traffic in Toronto core

VIDEO: Tamil protesters create human chain
LUCAS OLENIUK/TORONTO STAR
Tamil protesters lined the streets of downtown Toronto Monday afternoon demonstrating against the political turmoil in Sri Lanka. (March 16, 2009)

Protesters angry over the treatment of Tamils in Sri Lanka's civil began their demonstration on Front St. They are planning to run up Yonge St. to Bloor St., continuing west down Bloor St. to University Ave., where they will turn south back to Front St.
Mar 16, 2009 03:56 PM
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Sunny Freeman
Staff Reporter

A demonstration by members of Toronto's outspoken Tamil community is causing traffic jams along major downtown thoroughfares.

More protesters are expected to flood downtown streets this afternoon to protest attacks by the Sri Lankan military on Tamils in that country's bloody civil war. Toronto police are anticipating participants in the thousands into the evening.

Protesters waving flags and placards, banging drums and chanting began forming a human chain on Front St. around 1 p.m. The demonstration runs up Yonge St. to Bloor St., continuing west down Bloor St. to University Ave., where it will turn south back to Front St.

By 3:30 p.m. some demonstrators were spread along the sidewalks of all four streets, with a heavier concentration in the southern part of the downtown core near Yonge and Dundas Square.

"There are no issues so far. We're communicating well with the event organizers and it's been very peaceful," said Toronto police Const. Wendy Drummond.

Drummond said that while the throng has not spilled onto the streets, traffic is slowing to watch the march, which is "a visual distraction" for drivers. She said police expect the crowd to increase in numbers as the day goes on.

An influx of protesters toting Tamil red flags en route to the rally is congesting some subway stations and trains in the east end, said TTC spokesperson Danny Nicholson. At one station there was a line of about 150 people waiting to get a day pass this afternoon. Streetcar service has not been affected, he said.

So far, the streets remain open to traffic, but if the crowd becomes large enough, police will shut down the busy streets.

The protest is expected to affect traffic until 6 p.m. An increased number of police officers will attend to monitor the protests and divert traffic. Officers from several units, including the public safety division and TAVIS task force have been stationed around the downtown core.

Police are advising motorists to expect delays and take alternate routes during the afternoon to avoid being caught in slowed-down traffic.

The demonstrations have been happening downtown every couple of weeks for the past two months, including some 40,000 people taking to the streets in late January.

Similar events are happening today around the world.

Greater Toronto is home to 200,000 Tamils, the largest such community outside Sri Lanka, where a 25-year-old civil war and a long history of atrocities on both sides has risen to an even bloodier level in recent months.

Have the Tamil community’s protests in Toronto affected the situation in Sri Lanka?
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