Chronology of events
Demonstrators gathered at the intersection of King St. and Bay St. at around 10 am on 15 October, 2011 and then moved to St. James Park while stressing the importance of a peaceful demonstration and the need to be heard as a single voice. Early numbers put the visible turnout fluctuating at between 2000-3000 participants, including NDP MP Peggy Nash, Joel Duff of the Ontario Federation of Labour, and CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn. After the first few hours, as the sunset progressed the numbers dropped into the hundreds. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers marched over to the intersection after lunch and met up with the protesters. After a large crowd gathered at the Bay Street entrance to the Toronto-Dominion Bank, five people entered the bank and security detained them before removing them from the branch.
Almost two weeks after the protest began, occupiers still maintain their presence in St. James Park with no threat of removal by the municipal government and scheduled a march on Bay Street for 1 pm on October 27. During that occupation, after the protesters had caused the backup of 10 westbound King streetcars and six streetcars eastbound, bicycle police cleared hundreds of postal workers and other protesters from the intersection of King and Bay streets. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers marched over to the intersection after lunch and met up with the protesters. After a large crowd gathered at the Bay Street entrance to the Toronto-Dominion Bank, five people entered the bank and security detained them before removing them from the branch.
In preparation for an indeterminable length of occupation, a solar panel was installed to provide electricity in the media tent and the "Winter's Coming Committee" is drawing up plans to "freeze-proof" the camp.
In the hours after another protest on November 2, the media reported developments of the current municipal reaction: "They're still residing in that park against the law," said Patrick McMurray who owns a restaurant across the street from the park. -He says he's losing business because customers are afraid to come downtown. In response to his concerns, McMurray received an email this week from Rob Ford saying, "When it is determined that we no longer have a peaceful protest, but rather an occupation of the park, we will consider options to remove the individuals who are camping in the park."
Non-occupying support
As of November 4th, it was estimated that thousands of supporters are helping the roughly 500 people occupying St. James Park, including those considered to be in the privileged "1%". A group of seven unions, including the Ontario Public Service Employees Union and the Canadian Labour Congress have installed porta-potties, generators, Mongolian yurts and a 28-foot mobile kitchen. Other donations include straw from the president of a hydraulics company, and 250 compostable bags of water from the owner of a waste-water technology company, who said: "There needs to be a correction of how global financial businesses work. Something is wrong. Hopefully, this helps them [the occupiers] buy more time to help keep the pressure up until something more concrete comes out of it."
Response
From police
At the initial protest, two men were arrested in the mid-afternoon, one for trespassing and the other for as yet undisclosed reasons. Inspector Howie Page commented to CityNews: "From a policing side, it's been a good day. They've been lawful, they've been peaceful, they told us where they were going to go... they were more than willing to work with us and facilitate what we were asking."
From politicians
On the first day of protests, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford told CTV: "I have no problem with citizens expressing themselves through the public rally and I don't expect the event to turn violent. If people want to protest peacefully, that is fine. And I am sure it is going to be a peaceful protest."
From corporate interests
The Canadian Bankers Association told its members to "prepare for the worst, hope for the best," while a number of downtown banks ordered extra security in preparation. Also, CTV News obtained an internal memo from Toronto-Dominion Bank, telling employees they were working with "external partners" to maintain the security of their branches.
The CEO of TD Bank, Ed Clark was asked what advice he might give to the protesters. His answer was "My main advice is stick to your guns. When people say, 'You don't have a solution,' say, 'Of course we don't. If there was a solution, don't you think people would be doing it?' To ask the people who occupy Wall Street or Bay Street to have a full answer is absurd. They're doing their job which is to say, 'If you think this system is working for everyone, it's not.' Now they have to figure out how not to get captured by special interest and keep the pressure on. We need people to talk about these problems and how we're going to solve them. TD head Ed Clark was a close second to top earning bankers according to an article in November 2011 issue of Toronto Life. He had a good year, earning $11,426,795.
From the media
On October 14, 2011, Toronto Sun published thoughts from columnist Joe Warmington: "If this event is real, and I have to admit I am skeptical but am trying to keep an open mind and let it unfold as it does, there will be legitimate demonstrators pointing out how the middle class is being eroded and how taxes are too high or not high enough and how jobs are hard to come by and other concerns. No problem because it's true. But if it becomes a Marxist whine-fest or a Black Bloc gang spoiling for a violent fight with the cops, there will not be much tolerance and acceptance from Torontonians who even though they sometimes scold their cops, still respect, appreciate and love them."
From bloggers
One site toponepercentcanada created a fictional counter-protest page for the top 1% to get their voices heard. Counter-signs such as End the occupation and I've got 99 problems but being rich aint one - don't hit me!.
All about: Occupy Wall Street, USA Today, Fox News, The New York Times, New York City , Chicago, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, John McCain, We are the 99%
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