While there may have been thousands of people on the Gardiner Expressway Sunday, it appears there were far more of you on the so-called electronic highway. We asked for your reaction to the
Tamil protest that tied up one of the city's main arteries. We received almost as much email on this topic as any we've ever covered.
Some are mad, and want to see arrests.
Many are sure both the police and the mayor let all of Toronto down.
But others believe the demonstrators are doing the right thing and need to get their point across.
That's the position taken by one man who took part in the protest on Sunday night. He wonders about the fuss this time when residents don't quite react that way when roads are down on other occasions.
"Clearly when the Gardiner's closed for a whole weekend, they are not inconvenienced by that or when a person gets into an accident on the highway, they are not inconvenienced by that. Keep in mind, we were only on the highway for six hours and we got off peacefully, as well."
But many drivers don't agree. And neither do local businesses, which are hurt by the constant congestion. Nancy Constantino's café is located at the bottom of the Sri Lankan Consulate at St. Clair and Avenue Rd., where protestors returned on Monday. Their actions are costing her customers.
"Am I sympathetic?" she asks rhetorically. "I was at the beginning in February, and as the protests have gone along, they do not have my support."
Here's just a sample of some of your comments, edited for length where necessary. We can't print all the correspondence we received but every letter was read and we appreciate your response and the passion from both sides on this issue.
"It's a disgrace the way the Tamil are trying to get their point across. Blocking a highway? That's a stupid and unsafe move. What if something had happened to a protester - like falling over the guardrail? Who would they have sued? I have no sympathy for them now. They've gone too far."
Jackie N.
"Did the police act responsibly during the protest or should they have moved in to make arrests? Yes, the police acted very responsibly, although they were attacked and suffered injury and property damages. But they could have been more swift to remove the crowd from the highway.
"Did the protest change your mind about the situation in Sri Lanka? NOT AT ALL... it only made me understand how much is not known by most of the people here in Canada.
"What would you have done, given that small children were present? What should authorities do the next time? If it was up to me, first of all I would have the children taken away by the Children's Aid Society and the parents charged for endangering the lives of children. Taken firm action against every person carrying the terrorist flag which is banned in Canada. And this what I think the authorities should do the next time (and I am sure there will be more.)"
Mohamed A.
"Tamils protested peacefully for too long, and nothing has gotten accomplished. That's why I feel that drastic measures like yesterday's protest were acceptable. Tamils were left with no other option. And, finally a member of parliament has said that they would at least consider something. Yesterday was Mother's Day, yet thousands were made motherless. We as a world should not tolerate genocide."
Sharanja T.
"I am all about equality and the right to protest peacefully, HOWEVER, there is a time and a place to deliver your message in a peaceful and effective way.
"Blocking the highway and using your children as pawns and shields is not the way to proceed. It was very dangerous, and they were lucky some motorist didn't just say the hell with it and plowed their way through it.
What was once public sympathy and support is now turning to absolute disgust and resentment ... I feel for your people, I truly do ...but blocking a highway, not cool..."
Tracey O.
"In terms of their cause, I think that if the Canadian government wasn't doing anything to help their country, I could see some point to the protests. Since Canada has sent relief money and has tried to pressure the proper people into a ceasefire, I believe they should be satisfied with what Canada has tried to do. Asking for the provincial government to promise any further help seems like a last second excuse for their actions seeing that the provincial government doesn't have the power to influence actions overseas.
Finding out that this civil war has been going on over 25 years makes me wonder how this protest, with the violence and danger they were willing to put their own children in, was going to help their cause with Torontonians."
Rod O.
"Listen to the cries of the protesters and do something now before it is too late."
Mirunan G.
Margaret E.
"The Tamil community has a right to make their voices heard, and few would disagree that the situation in Sri Lanka is dire. However, inconveniencing Torontonians by blocking major routes and protesting illegally (and dangerously) is not the way to go about it. The police should not break up their demonstration, rather they should insist that it move to a safer location where it does not prevent people from going about their business. Anyone protesting illegally after that should be arrested."
Ben R.
Felix W.
"If I were in charge? Every parent with a child on the highway would have been charged with child endangerment. And if any of the ring leaders of this situation could be identified and associated with an organization in particular would be sanctioned (for a period of time) from getting any permit or official authorization for a legal protest in the GTA."
Shannon
"Honestly, I have been quite furious with the Tamil protests. However, I noticed that even if they do not get sympathy from those in the GTA it really has led people to do research into the bloodbath happening in Sri Lanka.
"I think Canada should immediately take action in Sri Lanka to stop Tamils from getting depleted from the country - and most importantly so there can be an end to these protests in Toronto. Frankly, I do not think they will stop.
I have not seen an ethnic group as determined as them to put an end to this. Clearly, their unsafe and dangerous way of entering the Gardener Expressway is a desperate plea, and indicates something dire is occurring in Sri Lanka."
Elissa H.
"My open message to the protesters is that Palestinians, Kenyans and Tibetans were victims of political violence in their homeland recently, yet their Toronto-based communities did not block a major highway to voice their cause. You have every right to voice your concern for your people's plight in Sri Lanka, but you have an obligation to your other country - the one you live in now - to be socially responsible and not abuse that right. Note that this is not coming from a disgruntled 5th generation Canadian who is angry at being stuck in traffic, but rather a fellow Asian immigrant who can relate to helplessly watching on TV as state-sponsored violence claimed lives back in the 'motherland.'"
Ben K.
"I'm not very familiar with the political issues right now in Sri Lanka, so I will adjust my opinion...You've got to admire the dedication that these Tamil-Canadians have towards their cause. Their protests, although incredibly inconvenient, have been peaceful, and focused towards their goal of trying to get the Canadian and US governments to get involved.
"I am so glad to see that there are still Canadians out there (newly immigrated, parents immigrated, or several generations a Canuck) that will protest for things like peace and human rights, as opposed to negative protests or lobbies that undermine the foundations of our beautiful country, like lobbying to call it a Holiday Tree or Happy Holidays. At least this protest is in the interests of humans that are suffering.
"So to you Tamil-Canadians, or well-wishers out there: Believe in yourself, and believe in others. Your protests may be very intrusive into the lives of other people, but your peaceful dedication to the cause shows that Canadians truly are a caring bunch of people, for those here at home, and others that are suffering elsewhere. Good on you!"
Dave B.
"I checked out pictures of Tamils dying in Sri Lanka...it was horrible . THEY NEED OUR HELP AND WE NEED TO STOP BEING SELFISH RATS. If they have another protest, I was am going to be in the protest myself."
Claire B.
"These people deliberately put their children in harm's way by bringing them not only to a protest, but onto a major highway in the city. This is an offshoot of giving them an inch when they took over University. On both fronts, the police should have moved in swiftly and more so when they took over the highway. The jails should be overflowing this Monday morning and the CAS should be called in to investigate the parents who would place their children in harm's way."
S. D.
"How many countries of the world are presented here in Toronto by large groups of population? Plenty. How many of those countries have internal issues from mild to serious and even to catastrophic? I can name a few.
"What would happen if on each such occasion a mob would run through Toronto crushing the daily life of many?...
"Does Canada have the means to stop violence in Sri Lanka overnight? No. Did Canada make a huge favour to all of us accepting us together with our problems, allowing us to come and live here? Yes. Please appreciate this."
Anatoliy M.
"Mayor Miller and Chief Blair should be fired effective immediately for their handling of this matter. At what point does Canadian tolerance draw its line? At what point do the rest of us exercise our rights to not be subjugated to these disturbances?
Ridiculous, embarrassing and utterly stupid are just a few of the words I have to describe this entire debacle. And those are just for the leadership in this city. I'll keep my thoughts regarding the protesters to myself."
Aaron
"I'm a Tamil myself and I understand that some might be frustrated that the highway was closed ... All I can say is NO ONE that's including
CityNews, all other forms of media, police officers, public who have nothing to do with Tamils who keep complaining about protests will understand the situation our families are going through in Sri Lanka.
"HOSPITALS ARE GETTING BOMBED. HOMELESS/POOR PEOPLE AS IT IS ARE LIVING A HARD LIFE BUT THEY ARE DYING AN AWFUL DEATH! IGNORANCE! But people in Canada who have nothing to do with Tamils have the nerve to get annoyed with us because we're upset down here that our FAMILIES ARE DYING EVERYDAY IN SRI LANKA. Media really needs to smarten up with their choice of words."
T. J.
"You only have to look at the situation in Caledonia to see where protesters can make others lives miserable when it is allowed to fester without legal intervention. When protesters become law breakers they should all be prosecuted, regardless of how many there are!"
Dorothy B.
Jennifer L.
"I am disgusted by the behaviour of these people. They have been holding Canadians living and working downtown hostage to their protest for too long. This was the final straw. This is not the right way to get the attention of government. What purpose has this protest served? It may have won Ignatieff a few votes in the next election, but overall it will have done nothing but create strife between Tamils living in the GTA and the rest of the city's population."
Nancy W.
"Regardless of what the protestors want to draw attention to, all people in this city are going to really remember is how much they are annoying everyone. On a side note, the Canadian government is NOT responsible for what's happening Sri-Lanka. So stop taking your frustrations out on Canadians."
Richard S.
"How can the police & government be proud of a job well done when a group of people brought Toronto traffic to a halt, on Mother's Day of all days, while police and government did nothing to protect the rest of Toronto's residents? I firmly believe that the lack of authoritative proactive reactions sets a negative precedent for future protests, as summer is just gearing up."
Elena R.
Alfredo A.
"What about OUR rights? Why should the city be put in a stranglehold because of the protestors? And bringing babies and children is their way of keeping the police from doing their job. If there were no children at the protest, I say bring in a bulldozer and the military and stop this B.S. I work downtown and it is a nightmare. "
Linda H.
"I think the police did a great job. The protest got media coverage for more that 2 hours. In that coverage the reason for the extreme decision of going onto the Gardiner Expressway was revealed over and over. Basically the killing of more than 2,000 civilians back home instigated the major decision.
"Furthermore, Torontonians accommodate fundraiser events and other concert events that close up highways, and just like that this was just another event. The only reason for conflict was that it was unexpected."
Thavappiriya T.
"Where is Jullian Fantino when we need him?"
Anonymous
"I think the police should have returned the favour by blocking the highway at each end of the protest and walking them all off down one ramp...taking names and writing tickets."
John S.
"I know if Mel Lastman was still mayor he would have had the army there to remove them and he would not have just sat twiddling his thumbs for over 6 hours they occupied that highway. This example has set a very dangerous precedent for the future. David Miller and Chief Blair resign you are both disgraceful. You definitely will not get my vote next election."
Marlaena L.
"The government now cannot do anything, as if they do, all other groups will storm our roadways and take our city hostage until their demands are met. Peaceful protests do get the message out, hostile demands should be outlawed before things really get out of hand."
Lori S.
"I think what the Tamil community did on Sunday is right because all these time they were doing what they can do to bring attention about the war but no one did anything from Canada, I think they should do like this more and more until the Canadian government does something about it."
Sivaranga S.
And finally, a lengthy email from a woman who got caught up in the traffic nightmare caused by the protest. Her story appears to be typical of many.
"We were downtown yesterday TRYING to get to Women's College at approx 4pm yesterday with all roads leading to the hospital blocked by police, it was complete gridlock trying to get around on the surrounding roads. We finally get to College & University and just as we were about to go through the intersection a police officer on his bicycle starts redirecting traffic down University.
"We put our window down and tell him we're trying to get to the hospital and we've been driving forever and can't get around. He motions for us to park on the side of the road, saying "there are 4,000 - 5,000 protestors down there and you're not going to get through", motions to a spot to park and says we'll have to walk from there.
"We park and walk with our young kids who at this point are very scared from the yelling and chanting and the shear chaos going on, we had to cross the street to get to the hospital through the mass crowd. What if we couldn't walk, or had it been an emergency?
"After visiting with my sister and newly born nephew we leave to go out for dinner at approx 7pm and the crowd was starting to try to block the road again people lying on the street in front of a street car!! Which lead to racing police vehicles blocking the roads...AGAIN!! We get to our car only to find a parking ticket that was issued at 6:50pm...You've got to be kidding me??"
"We parked where the officer told us to park, thousands of people breaking the law, and they have time to write me a ticket???
"We manage to find our way to The Keg for my "Mother's Day" dinner. We manage to have a wonderful dinner only to come out to police blocking more roads and gridlock trying to get on the Gardiner figuring something else must be going on, we were lucky to turn around and try going up side roads trying to avoid the other blockades going on at Spadina etc hearing on the radio about the protesters on the Gardiner Expressway.
"This has been going on long enough they're preaching peaceful cease fire yet they aren't protesting peacefully. GET OFF THE ROADS and Chief Blair DO YOUR JOB!!!
"...Yesterday's demonstration certainly isn't going to get any sympathy for their cause, not from me anyway, not after that ordeal! It's absolutely ridiculous!"
Anna