Thousands Rally For Occupy Toronto

Thousands Rally For Occupy Toronto

Under intermittent rain and high winds, thousands gathered today in busy downtown Toronto to show support for the month-long Occupy Wall Street and numerous uprisings across the globe.

As many as 1,000 cities in 80 countries are thought to be participating in similar rallys including major metropolitans throughout Canada and vow to stay until they see drastic changes to the current economic systems.

The Toronto rally quickly grew in numbers as participants marched from the TD Bank Plaza at King and Bay Streets down Bay Street to St. James Park where the group currently occupies.

It's a relaxed environment with no apparent urgency; people of all ages playing musical instruments, banging drums, singing and dancing, waiving signs. One woman walked around offering free hugs.

One small group of about 5 people wearing black masks and waiving black flags walked along King Street away from the 'occupation'. Reminded me of the infamous 'Black Bloc' which was responsible for most of the violence and destruction during Toronto's G20 last Summer. Police weren’t too far behind these guys.

Groups of Police, mostly on bikes, kept watch along the perimeter of the park. Some officers socialized, others stood silent.

Liberal MP Bob Rea attended briefly, pointing out that the occupied area is in his riding and that he cares about the people.

"We've had a country for a long time where we really cared about what happens to each other and I worry about the margins, the gap that's growing between different kinds of Canadians", Bob Rea stated, "It's a whole political thing, I mean Mr. Harper isn’t gonna' change much and ya' know this is I think a reflection of the frustration people feel right now that their voices aren’t necessarily being heard."

NDP MP Olivia Chow was also in attendance as well as a few other MP's.

Numerous tents, a feeding station, medical station and over a dozen port-a-potties were set up making it at least appear like it's going to be a long stay.