London cops clear Occupy camp; Toronto could be next (London Ontario Canada)

QMI Agency via Sun Media ^ | 2011-11-09

[Clive]

Police in London, Ont., removed Occupy protesters from a city park early Wednesday, and officials in Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa suggested they're ready to follow suit.

Dozens of officers in London surrounded the park at about 12:30 a.m., as Day 18 of the anti-corporate-greed protest began.

Police were back Wednesday night and a man with his leg in a cast was forcibly pulled from a tent, the first arrest in the Occupy London protest.

The city had ordered the protesters to vacate the park by 6 p.m. Tuesday, and told them they'd be charged with trespassing after 10 p.m.

But as police stood by as both deadlines passed, up to 150 occupiers remained.

When it looked like police were standing down, protester Neil Hamell said he wasn't surprised city officials didn't follow through on the threat.

"There's too many people here," Hamell said. "It shows the strength in the movement."

But all that changed after many supporters and onlookers left and protesters settled in for the night.

That's when police swooped in, becoming the first authorities in Canada to move against one of the many U.S.-inspired Occupy Movement camps that have sprung up across the country.

Meanwhile, in Toronto, Mayor Rob Ford said the Occupy encampment at St. James Park needs to go and soon.

"They've had a peaceful protest, but I think it's time we asked them to leave," Ford said.

He said he's trying to schedule a meeting with police Chief Bill Blair about the issue, but hasn't been able to yet.

The mayor said there's no doubt in his mind bylaws are being broken at the camp, occupied by about 500 people.

As well, he said, the park's sprinkler system must be readied for winter or it will be damaged.

[...]

[Clive]

Personally I would have waited until between 0200 and 0400 to start the raid. Decades ago it was convential wisdom in the RCMP that the best time to make a raid was in that time frame. The wee small hours of the morning greatly minimizes the probability of effective resistance.

[Clive]

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[goldstategop]

Ron Ford is Toronto’s conservative mayor.

Canadians are fed up with it. It offends Canadian values. Good government, order and peace. All of which Canada’s OWSers violate.

[dynachrome]

If the sprinklers are still working, might as well use them.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

ooooo....I’ll be in Ontario near Toronto next week. I’ll have to go watch the fun.

[Ann Archy]

Toronto has a CONSERVATIVE mayor???? OMG!! how wonderful!! I am shocked.