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anti-war protesters hold upside-down flags in front of half-mast Stars and Stripes

by Judi McLeod & Brian Thompson

July 1, 2004

It wasn’t the Maple Leaf or Roman candles on the minds of anti-war protesters, who gathered in downtown Toronto on the eve of July 1st Canada Day. It was the august GOP Republican Convention in New York City, where protesters promise to bus in thousands of Canadian dissenters.

With the Stars and Stripes at half mast at the University avenue american Consulate in respect to former President Ronald Reagan, protesters carried their american flags--upside-down.

The american administration had already handed sovereignty back to Iraq on Monday and by Wednesday had turned Saddam Hussein and 11 others over to the Iraqi governing council, but the Toronto Coalition to Stop the War, turned out to demonstrate in front of Canadian businesses accused of aiding the U.S. administration in Iraq.

Emotional 13-year-old schoolgirl afnan al-Hashimi, speaking out against U.S. involvement in her home country, was a key speaker.

The protests had been timed to coincide with the handover of power from the U.S.-led coalition to a governing council in Iraq. Off by days in their timing, protesters blamed "embarrassment" as the motive for the U.S. moving up its schedule.

Motorists fighting bumper-to-bumper traffic going to work yesterday morning on Toronto’s Don Valley Expressway, were greeted with a banner reading, "Stop Group 4 Falck: Iraq War Profiteers!"

The security empire’s crime?

"Group 4 Falck is the largest security firm in the western world, operating in 80 countries, including Iraq. 2003 company reports identify increased profits due to the invasion and occupation of Iraq."

It wasn’t only the multi-internationals on their hit list.

While mainstream Canadians prepared for the statutory holiday provided by their nation’s 137th birthday, the protest was getting underway at 2 p.m. Pickets were thrown up in front of the Canadian Commercial Corporation on Yonge St. Banging drums and chanting, the protesters allege the crown corporation, which as Canada’s export contracting agency brings buyers and Canadian exporters together, has helped arrange deals between Canadian arms manufacturers and the U.S. military.

"We’re saying we don’t want our tax dollars supporting U.S. foreign policy and arms. This is on the conscience of the Canadian people," said Serena Nadir, speaking on behalf of an in holiday mode Canadian population.

another demonstration was set up at InterHealth Canada, a health-care export corporation, which protesters accuse of having applied to the United States for contracts to set up private hospitals in Iraq.

If the deals go through, protesters reckon, only rich Iraqis will have access to health care.

another group, willing to stop rush-hour traffic at University and College Sts., backed off when issued a warning by police.

Protesters, shouting "Shame on the U.S.a.", carried signs that read: "USa out of Iraq" and "USa Leave in Peace, or Leave in Pieces."

Surrounded by university students, anarchists and trade unionists, Paul Hamel, a University of Toronto medical professor, who helped organize the protest, spoke about morals.

"Some of us have a sense of moral right and wrong. But we have the illusion that we’re not in the (Iraq) conflict. I don’t want to be involved in the war of imperialism."

No one in the noisy crowd paid any attention, let alone respect to the american flag at half mast, recognizing the death of President Reagan.

Just two days after a Canadian federal election that left Canada with its first minority government in more than 30 years, it’s New York or bust for the protesters who are trying to bring down George W. Bush at the one million person march, planned for august.

Canada Free Press founding editor Most recent by Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience in the print media. Her work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck. Judi can be reached at: judi@canadafreepress.com


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