A racist group planned a ‘mass deportation rally’ or some crap in Christie Pits (a park close to downtown straddling Koreatown and an Ethiopian/Eritrean enclave), commemorating a ‘riot’ in which a Nazi group stormed the park and beat up players and spectators of a Jewish baseball game in the 1930s. In response, an antifascist group planned a community counter rally. (CBC coverage.)

Soon after the start times at Christie Pits, the racists congregated. The cops, who outnumbered the racists 2 or 3 to 1, surrounded the racists. The antiracists, who outnumbered the racists 20+ to 1, surrounded the cops.

The cops created a human exit tunnel for some racists to leave the park. Those racists proceeded down the middle of main streets (Bloor St, Yonge St) to Dundas Square (4.5 km). As did some cops. As did many anti-racists.

The anti-racists chanted things like “No hate. No fear. Immigrants are welcome here,” “Toronto loves immigrants,” “Toronto hates fascists,” “Toronto hates nazis.” The anti-racists effectively @#$%ed up the march, pissing the racists off and effectively diluting their event most of the way, but after 4.5 km the racists outnumbered the anti-racists. It seemed the racists had planned the march and the anti-racists were responding spontaneously.

One of the racists’ most-used chants was “Charlie Kirk. Rest in peace.”

Back at Christie Pits, some of both groups remained. The anti-racist setup was much bigger than the racist one. Only one group had tents, bands, food stations, etc.

@PapyrusBrigade@mstdn.ca @nev@status.nevillepark.ca @sportponies.bsky.social@bsky.bird.gy

  • streetfestival@lemmy.caOP
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    17
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    edit-2
    1 day ago


    Alt Text: Police walling a street off, preventing the anti-hate group from following the hate group

    Great info here!!!

    1. Video of how much bigger the anti-hate group is
    2. Photos and videos of Toronto Police Service trying to block the anti-hate group from following the hate group (example above)
      Credit: https://bsky.app/profile/shawnmicallef.bsky.social
      https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:zivafxyd4qecgvqg3bozligg/post/3lyqb6rygsk2i
  • streetfestival@lemmy.caOP
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    13
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    1 day ago

    Credit:@PapyrusBrigade@mstdn.ca

    Alt Text: Christie Pits has been lovely this afternoon. Huge neighbourhood turnout in support of immigrants and against fascism.

    I loved the Korean performances: Taekwondo, drumming, singing, dancing. Magicians and story telling for kids. Lots of live music.

    A few dozen dejected fascists, drowned out (both audibly and visually) by overwhelming numbers of antifascists.

    And this sad guy walking around with a Knights Templar flag and a Christian flag, both on a hockey stick. On which he has written “In this sign thou shalt conquer.”. Desperately seeking his people, as hundreds of people nearby enjoy Palestinian folk songs.

  • streetfestival@lemmy.caOP
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    13
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    2 days ago

    Credit:@nev@status.nevillepark.ca

    Alt Text: A large crowd at the southwest corner of Christie Pits [a downtown park in Toronto] with pro-immigrant and anti-racist signs

    Alt Text: A bunch of white tents set up in the “pit” part of Christie Pits with people gathering, either having just finished or preparing to start walking?

  • orioler25@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    7
    arrow-down
    3
    ·
    1 day ago

    A redditor got pissed at me yesterday for saying the Toronto Police infamously protect nazis.

    • Arkouda@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      9
      arrow-down
      3
      ·
      1 day ago

      You should probably get off Reddit, and definitely stop trying to bring that drama here.

      • orioler25@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        7
        arrow-down
        3
        ·
        1 day ago

        Ironically redditor-like comment. Wasn’t trying to bring “drama” just pointing out how differently right-wing sites treat these events.