Prorogue this!

[sabotabby]

Wow, so most of the anti-prorogue demos weren't as big as expected? I think because everyone was in Toronto. Seriously, our demo was huge.





It was a decent time, too. Everyone was seemed in very good spirits despite the cold. zingerella was smart and brought tea, which was also Rather Useful. The usual politicos were there, but also a fair amount of ordinary citizens who don't tend to get involved in politics unless they find out that some douchebag is getting a 22-day paid vacation on their dime. Then, believe it or not, even the most apathetic hoser gets a bit angry.

I went with Z. and we met up with curgoth, thegiantkiller, and a few others. We started up some silly chants and got everyone around to join in.

There were bagpipes, because protests suck unless there are bagpipes:



There were even Spartans:



Now, I think the Spartans may have been a bit misguided, not to mention underdressed, but I do admire their pluck.




Burying Parliament. Later on these women got together with the bagpipe guy and had a mock funeral, which was pretty great.


The all-important furry contingent made it out.


Some people are editors and, thus, sticklers for accuracy.


Time Ladies Against Harper.


Some communist drinking proper tea. The Communist Party of Canada was so enamoured of this person's hat that they gave her a matching pin:


If you can't see, it has two little gears in it, making it both a commie pin and a steampunk pin. Best. Party logo. Ever.

Lots of good black-and-white photos here, including aerial views of the march.

P.S. The post is unlocked for now; people who are in the photos, let me know if you want me to lock it.

Comments

[troubleinchina.livejournal.com]

I really wanted to go to our protest, but I was at this Other Thingy.

[lienne.livejournal.com]

I am so glad this thing was so huge! It makes me feel less bad for not going.

...damn, I cannot stop staring at those Spartans and their fake moustaches. XDDDD

[bcholmes.livejournal.com]

Oh, man. I'm so jealous. I wanted to go, but Haiti stuff has taken over my life.

[sabotabby]

...what you're doing is a hell of a lot more important.

[skywardprodigal.livejournal.com]

On behalf of the province of me, I thank you for loving Canada.

[sabotabby]

Eh, I could never love a country, least of all this one. The very concept of patriotism confounds me. But that doesn't stop me from being disgusted by its leadership.

[pofflewomp.livejournal.com]

I love my country for things like its countryside and landscapes and cream teas and cultural history, but not remotely in any patriotic sense I hope, as I love the landscapes and cultures of other countries I've seen too. So I think you can sort of love your country but not in a horrible patriotic or nationalist way. Hopefully. If it is lovely enough. I love Wales best though.

[symbioid.livejournal.com]

ok, so i'm drunk, witht hat said and the fact i read the post intro:

anti-prorogue, shouldn't that just be called "rogue"?

[neeuqdrazil.livejournal.com]

I'm sad that I didn't make it, but I needed to be *not* around people today.

Thank you for going, though!

[athenaze.livejournal.com]

What was this march about? Also, the steampunk pin is cool. And my faves are the Spartans!

[sabotabby]

This is kind of a cute primer. It only hints at the main reason Parliament was prorogued, which is that the government was facing a severe blow to what little remained of its credibility. Basically, Our Troops handed over a lot of Afghan detainees to Afghan authorities, with full knowledge that they'd be tortured. Everyone knew about this, up to and including the Prime Minister's office. By proroguing Parliament, Harper shuts down the committee that was investigating this. He's betting on Canadians not giving a shit, which is probably true when it comes to torturing Afghans, but Canadians do tend to care about Parliament getting shut down.

[erinlin.livejournal.com]

Why do they always schedule these things while I'm working?

[ironed_orchid]

Now, I think the Spartans may have been a bit misguided, not to mention underdressed, but I do admire their pluck.

Clearly their knitted beards kept them warm!

Looks like a good turn out.

[culpster.livejournal.com]

I've heard 150-200 in Guelph, 300 in Sudbury, etc. I think the numbers were mostly solid. Of course Niagara sucked. Aside from it being the kneejerkoff capitol of Eastern Canada, no one could even be bothered posting a location and start time - I got my info from a letter to the editor. I'm jealous!

For the neophytes, who I hope are from away, here's the backgrounder:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/prorogation/

Sorry to post the G & M, better links welcome! Basically the government arbitrarily shut down parliament - 'prorogued' - for 2 months so as to avoid questions about detainee torture in Afghanistan, stack the Senate, plot massive cutbacks, etc. Everyone said people were dumb enough to take it lying down, now they're down in the polls and it's hot topic #1 around here, trumping even Haiti. Yes, even trumping Jay Leno.

[culpster.livejournal.com]

Wow, Globe (AGAIN, sorry) estimates national turnout at 25,000. With official numbers in TO reading 7,000 that's some good shit.

It would have been a mere 24,990 without St. Catharines though!

[culpster.livejournal.com]

HERE we go. 200 in Quinte! 300 in Orillia! 150 in Antigonish!

http://www.scribd.com/doc/25667151/Estimated-Crowd-Attendance-for-CAPP-Rallies

[jamie-miller.livejournal.com]

WHERE CAN I GET A KNITTED SPARTAN BEARD OMFG

[seanmonster.livejournal.com]

Find someone who knits, and ply them with gifts/favors. At least, that's what I'm planning to do.

[fengi.livejournal.com]

"Our parlimentary system is being corrupted! How can we adequately rebuff this?"

"We should find a clever way to take off our shirts!"

"Yes, that does seem like the most effective choice."

"But it can't be the same as when we dressed up like shirtless lumberjacks with plush axes to protest the Oil Sands, or shirtless Pirates with macrame swords to protest the IMF. It must be more thematically coherent."

"True, but whatever we do, my pecs are flexed for democracy!"

[marrythebed.livejournal.com]

And even then the Spartans aren't as ridiculous as the Spartacists!

[seanmonster.livejournal.com]

Wearing awesome hats gets you cool prizes? Who knew!

[retinal-strain.livejournal.com]

Who knew that so many people still had faith in representative democracy?

[snarkitysnarks.livejournal.com]

That is the best logo and the best hat and the best communist.

[ltmurnau.livejournal.com]

I went to the rally in Victoria. There were probably 800 to 1,000 people there, by my unscientific estimate. I took my son with me; it was his first demo ever!

[pofflewomp.livejournal.com]

No idea what it's all about, but I think those Spartans have quite nice bodies, and must be hardy verily methinks as they withstand much cold.
Looking through my grandmother's things I found her scrapbook from when she lived in Canada in the 1960 ish, which political snippets from local papers about crazy people stamping on Communist sausages (sausages from Poland) in the street. I will try to scan some in someday as they are special to me at least.