Demonstration This Weekend

Where: City Hall When: 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 26 (Boxing Day) What: This will be a walk. Please wear appropriate footwear

We request that you do not bring handmade signs. We need to present a mainstream, unified front in order to make the best impression on the fence-sitters. Professionally printed signs will be made available. If you already have one of our signs please bring it.

It is More Important Now Than Ever to Attend the Rally

As most of you know in the past couple of weeks there was a division between the groups. I've spoken to both parties in an attempt to bring them back together, but so far I've been unsuccessful (still trying though). If you were at the Saturday demonstration last weekend you know the numbers were small and there was one arrest when someone refused to cooperate with bylaw. Bylaw then called the police (which they have the authority to do) and CPS had no choice but to arrest him. I spoke directly with a member of the police and got the impression they would rather not have had to do that. See notes below on how to avoid this situation yourself.

The Sunday rally had far more people and they are the group arranging the rally this Saturday (I am not aware of any others this weekend). We expect over 1,000 to attend. The city is pushing back, handing out more tickets. This was to be expected and shows they see us a threat to their authority - and well they should - our organization is growing every day. As they attempt to bully us it is more important than ever not to back down. Our strength is in numbers. If at all possible, please be there this Saturday.

How to Avoid Tickets - Our Muster Points

Last weekend bylaw officers handed out a few tickets, mostly as people were leaving the demonstration. They pick on small groups so we're setting up 2 muster points several blocks from the demonstration. We will meet there and walk in a group to the rally. We will then muster again at the end of the rally (under our banner) and march back to the muster points before people disperse.

The muster points will be announced Saturday morning at 11:30. Please be sure to check your email.

Be on time! In order not to make a target out of the first people to arrive this will be a ten minute window from 12:45 to 12:55.

What to Do If Bylaw Approaches You

This is less of a concern walking to the demonstration than it is leaving. They are watching and have to actually see you there so you're unlikely to get a ticket going to the demonstration, although it is possible. If you are not leaving with the two large groups and you are approached by bylaw, while you don't have to be polite, do cooperate. They do have the authority to call police if you refuse to provide your personal information, and CPS will have no choice but to arrest you if you continue to refuse to cooperate.

Do not pay the ticket! Send the ticket to the Justice Center for Constitutional Freedoms (jccf.ca). They will fight the ticket for free. A number of cases tried in Ontario have already been thrown out, as no government or enforcement agency my lawfully issue a fine for contravention of a law or bylaw which is itself illegal. The restriction on public gatherings is a contravention of our constitutional right to assemble.

Once again, do not give bylaw any reason to call police. We are trying to maintain good relations with CPS and do not want them seeing our organization as the problem.