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