And we’re back! After missing two years because of Covid, Pride is back in Toronto.
Hot! ( 30+ C and sunny) but it didn’t seem to slow anyone down!
There were tens of thousands of people who protested on Friday. If you stood in one place, it would’ve taken more than hour for the whole march to pass by. The crowd was predominantly younger – students, or kids with their parents. There was a lot of community spirit and togetherness as people walked the circuit from Queens Park, across Wellesley, down Bay to Queen, and then up University to return to Queens Park. Almost all of the signs were home made.
.
below: I support Greta not Greed. A shout out to Greta Thunberg who created the idea of a climate strike and motivated people to participate.
below: It’s a family affair.
below: A team effort.
If you really think the economy is more important than the earth.. -> Recyclops will drown you in your overwatered lawn.
below: A bright red stop sign
below: At Bay and College, walking with confidence.
below: Walking the dog too.
below: Tissue paper letters
below: It’s difficult to keep a sign up straight as you walk!
Womens March
Nathan Phillips Square
A few photos of people (of all ages) and signs at today’s rally and march.
below: “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made” and “Destroy patriarchy not the planet” while sitting on the 3D Toronto sign.
below: “Grope”. A play on Obama’s Hope sign
below: Walking across Dundas Street. “Believe women”. “My body is not public property”.
below: There were many Princess Leia & the Resistance signs.
below: “Men of quality don’t fear equality”.
below: “Gender equality now”. “End Violence Against Women”.
below: “Boys will be good humans”
below: “I can’t believe we still have to protest this shit!”
below: “Love is the answer. Try it”
below: “I stand with the dreamers” “Defend DACA”
below: “Missing my nap to smash the patriarchy”
below: “Feminism is for everybody”
below: “The peeved beavers”
below: “I am a snowflake”
below: “Pussy power”
below: ” I stand with you” across the shoulders
below: “Why I march? So my daughter will never have to say #metoo” “Supergirl in training”
below: Trump in effigy, “Stop the madness”
below: “Care about each other, not like Donald Trump”
below: “Love not fear” and big red heart shaped balloon.
below: “I hope”
below: “Tick tock on the clock, we all say time’s up!” “You’re so vain you probably think this march is about you”
below: “Respecta mi existengia espera resistencia”. “We are the change”
below: “We won’t let this slide”. “My sexual preference is mutual consent”.
Thousands of people (50,000?), men, women and children, rallied at Queens Park and then marched down University Avenue past the American Embassy this afternoon. This was the Womens March in Toronto, a march in response to Donald Trump’s inauguration as President of the United States. It coincided with similar events in Washington, most major cities in North America, and other cities around the world. The Toronto marchers ended their walk at Nathan Phillips Square. It was a peaceful, positive event.
It was also a family event. There were a lot of kids walking with their parents (or being pushed in strollers). Many of the kids had made their own signs to carry.
There were also many people that came as groups, whether as groups of friends or groups united in a cause.
There were a few signs using the “We The People” designs by Shepard Fairey.
Donald Trump swings happily on a wrecking ball.
I march for equality and peace.
I’d rather have a queen than a trump.
There were lots of references to nasty women!
Many people wore pink hats. These mysterious two took it a step further, pink balaclavas.
Love not fear, and a pink hard hat too!
Free Melania | #freemelania
girls are strong
Women have rights and we’re gonna use them! … with rainbows.
A loud hear us roar!
Donald Trump was at the march too, even if only in effigy.
The march stopped for a few minutes when it reached Queen Street. There was much traffic confusion and chaos (and honking of horns) at the intersection of Queen and University until the police closed all traffic on Queen Street.
Orange? No. I’m peach. Great play on words.
Make America gay again!!
And that’s only part of the crowd at Nathan Phillips Square!
“Babies against Trump. We don’t like it when people call Trump a baby – we act better than him.”
Women’s rights are human rights.
#whyImarch | #womensmarch | #nastywoman | #lovetrumpshate | #noh8
The Trans Rally and March, first of the Pride parades was last night (Friday).
below: If you were driving on Yonge street last night, perhaps you got stuck in traffic. Northbound cars on Yonge were stopped to allow the parade to cross from Bloor to Yonge. The parade continued in the southbound lanes which gave the stuck drivers and passengers a front row seat.
Last year it rained for the Trans March and in previous years the turn out was low. Whether it is because trans issues have been in the news a lot lately, or because the trans community is more visible, or because of other reasons, there were more people walking than usual.
below: Dave holding ‘Pulse’ a memorial artwork in honour of those who died at the Pulse nightclub Orlando. The piece was crocheted by Dave and the Craft Action Collective.
#loveislove | #lovealwayswins
#jesuisCharlie Toronto version.
Rally & march, Sunday 11 January.
Nathan Phillips Square
Theo Van Gogh was a Dutch film producer, writer and actor. He helped create a short film depicting the mistreatment of Islamic women after which he received death threats. In November of 2004 he was murdered in Amsterdam.
There was also a group there with a large sign that said ‘Free all Political Prisoners in Iran’. A number of Iranian flags were being carried, but they were the flag with the lion in the center.
.