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rfmcdonaldThe announced Tamil protest scheduled for this evening on the front lawn of Queen's Park did happen, with crowds filling almost all of the front lawn. In fact, I took video of it.
The protest seemed to live up to its promise
And there weren't any traffic disruptions. There was, however, at least one person waving a banner of late Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, and there was definitely a heavy police presence.
After I left the scene of the protest, a man and his daughter, both apparently Tamils, accosted me.
"Where is the protest?" he asked me.
I told him to go east and then south. "You can't miss it."
The protest seemed to live up to its promise
The GTA's Tamil community returned to Queen's Park on Friday, but unlike previous gatherings, this one had a distinctly different tone. Gone were the flags, the banners and the chanting that had marked previous protests against the carnage taking place in their Sri Lankan homeland.
It was replaced by a quiet desperation, a feeling of hopeless grief that will culminate in a candlelight vigil after sundown.
For most of the black-clad mourners gathered at the scene, it's about remembering what was lost. The United Nations estimates more than 100,000 people died in the 25-year long war.
Many were relatives of those gathered at the Legislature.
"This one is about the fallen soldiers and civilians that came to fight for our freedom ... and people back home," explains Hamzny Krish. "It's not a good idea to be celebrating. And so, that's why we're here. No one's going to be in a good mood today because ... our own flesh and blood has passed way ... Half your body is taken away."
Several hundred people showed up as the gathering began at 4pm, and so many arrived after that, many were forced to watch the proceedings from across the street.
The sombre mood likely means there won't be the kind of marches and traffic disruptions that have marked the demonstrations in the past.
And there weren't any traffic disruptions. There was, however, at least one person waving a banner of late Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, and there was definitely a heavy police presence.
After I left the scene of the protest, a man and his daughter, both apparently Tamils, accosted me.
"Where is the protest?" he asked me.
I told him to go east and then south. "You can't miss it."
