 |
Last Saturday afternoon, I was in the core of the downtown area when Yonge Street was "occupied" with hordes of people waving flags, which for some reason I thought were Palestinian flags. Signs informed me that they were Syrian flags, and the "demonstrators" were part of the Syrian National Council, demanding that Canada assist in the ousting of Syrian president Assad. Interspersed amongst the Syrian flags were indeed one or two Palestinian flags, one actually leading a mini-procession.
This very large crowd, which started at Queens Park, the seat of the provincial government, marched down Yonge Street, holding large numbers of people hostage. Some demonstrators were shouting belligerently, both in Arabic and English. Police were along the route, keeping the crowds (demonstrators and those on the sidelines) in check.
The only thing I could think of was why are they protesting in Canada matters which involve another country several continents away? Why should any part of the Canadian government be involved in any part of Assad's removal (or continued governance for that matter)? And why weren't the cops (and city officials) simply putting a stop to this "demonstration" and telling the Syrians that if they had any grievances against their government, to "voice" it there?