Militant Mass Action Declares
"Our Voices Will Not Be Silenced!"

Thousands of people took to the streets of Toronto on June 25 to express a resounding "No!" to the militarization of Toronto, the G8/20 and their anti-social agendas and to put forward the demands of the peoples of Toronto, Canada and the world for human-centred alternatives and the recognition of rights.

A militant spirit of defiance characterized the day, starting with the fight to simply enter Allan Gardens to assemble for the rally and march. In a provocative manner, police arbitrarily snatched flag poles, searched and denied people entrance. The youth quickly organized to defend the people and designated a point of entry on the edge of the park effectively preventing the police from isolating or stopping anyone.

Speakers at the rally expressed the broad demands of the rally and march to oppose the illegitimate G8/20. They denounced the spending of $1.2 billion to protect those who make decisions every day against the people's interests and deny them their rights. The G8/20 were denounced as being incapable of providing solutions for the people. The speakers also vigorously condemned the militarization of the city and the sweeping powers granted to the police.

Women from various collectives lead the way as everyone poured into the streets. Chants of "G8, G20, They Are Few We Are Many; Whose Streets? Our Streets!"; "Whose City? Our City"; "They Say Stay Home -- We Say Fight Back!"; "Protesting Is Not a Crime -- No More Cops on Overtime" filled the air. Each time the police blocked a street and forced marchers to stop chants rang out: "This is What Democracy Looks Like -- That is What a Police State Looks Like!" and "Let Us March."

Attempts by the police to instigate a confrontation did not succeed and the demonstrators marched back to Allan Gardens to set up a tent city and plan for the next day's events. A jail solidarity action was organized for those detained by police. Later in the evening, participants from a public forum to oppose the G20 came to the park to show their support.

TML salutes all those who are taking a stand against the G8/20 throughout the week and calls on everyone to go all out to defy an authority that is anti-people and uses its power to impose anti-people agendas and measures.