Today marks the one-year anniversary of the Occupy Toronto movement, which saw dozens of protesters set up camp in St. James Park for almost two months. A year later, only about 40 people gathered in the park and a planned march that was to take place at 1 p.m. today didn’t happen.
“I am against any race that is not of my race,” shouts a man standing near the corner of King Street East and Church Street on Nov. 15. “That is the human race!” A light flicks on, microphones come out and a television reporter stands next to him. The camera’s light acts as a beacon, drawing other journalists.
As the Occupy Toronto protest enters its third week, some questions are being raised about the effect on the neighbourhood near the protest’s St. James Park campsite. Reverend Douglas Stoute, the Dean and Rector of St. James’ Cathedral, which sits within the occupied park, said the campers have actually been respectful of the grounds and the community.
Many people in Toronto and around the world want to change the current state of the world’s financial system. And anyone who doesn’t have a recession-proof salary should not see the Occupy movement as wholly nonsensical.
Occupy Toronto needs more voices from the GTA in order to be a successful movement.
Scarborough residents are few and far between at the Occupy Toronto protests downtown.
Katie Lynch never imagined living with her parents at the age of 33. She also never imagined going back to school. The single mother of a three-year-old recently moved home after losing her job 14 months ago. Lynch isn’t the only one uncertain and uneasy about her future.