Yesterday, the eerie calm of downtown Toronto was broken by a loud, but largely peaceful, march by various groups. We followed the cops, media and activists from Allan Gardens towards the G20 site.
The calm before the storm: the LCBO at King and Spadina is boarded up and closed for business in preparation for the expected G20 protests (Image: James Helmer)Hockey, anyone? Police search a man in the mostly abandoned plaza at King and York (Image: James Helmer)Many companies have added security and locked down access to buildings in the downtown core in preparation for ramped up demonstrations (Image: James Helmer)Protesters gather at Allan Gardens for a Justice for Our Communities rally and march on June 25 (Image: James Helmer)Irony abounds as the protest begins in Allan Gardens (Image: James Helmer)Moments before the march begins, organizer Gaetan Heroux makes a speech to the estimated 2,000 people gathered at Allan Gardens (Image: James Helmer)Protesters take a keen interest in Lake Harper (Image: James Helmer)One demonstrator masters the obvious as the march moves down Carlton Street (Image: James Helmer)A police officer gets trapped in the swarm of G20 protesters along Carlton Street. An estimated 2,000 people showed up for the Justice for Our Communities rally and march (Image: James Helmer)Demonstrators march along Carlton Street (Image: James Helmer)Police were out in full force for the march (Image: James Helmer)The march route started at Allan Gardens along Carlton, then down Bay Street to Gerrard, where police stopped and broke up the group into different directions (Image: James Helmer)Protester, police and media (Image: James Helmer)Tensions run high as many minor altercations caused long delays (Image: James Helmer)Clowns taunt police in riot gear along Gerrard Street East (Image: James Helmer)
Is that really all there is to it because that’d be flabbretgasing.