I thought I would start a new thread on this issue, as it has moved into the realm of National News. From [url=http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/632277] The Star [/url]
Dozens of Tamil protesters calling for intervention in the Sri Lanka civil war moved onto University Ave. this morning and are now blocking the southbound lanes between Dundas St. W. and Queen St. W.
Thousands of protesters shut down the Gardiner Expressway for more than six hours yesterday, and agreed to move from the freeway around midnight only after a representative in Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff's office promised to bring up the demonstrators' cause in Parliament.
The protesters are demanding international sanctions against the Sri Lankan government until it enters into a ceasefire with Tamil rebels in the country's north.
The decision by the leaders of more than 5,000 demonstrators to leave the Gardiner came as a relief to Toronto police - backed up by hundreds of OPP and RCMP officers - who had, until then, been stymied in their efforts to clear the vital roadway by the hundreds of women and children who helped form the front lines of the protest.
At midnight people began heading down the Spadina ramp and returning to the south lawn of Queen's Park, where the rally began earlier Sunday.
Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair said the protesters decided to leave the expressway following input from leaders of the protest and assurances political leaders would deal with their concerns.
"We received some help from some community members and some of our political leaders to bring an end to this," Blair said outside 52 Division early this morning.
"The protests are going to continue and we're anticipating having to deal with this in the days and weeks to come," Blair said.
Seeing as Iggy has basically been in hiding from media after the Dhalla allegations last week, it is very interesting that he chose to take this position publicly.
I will be very curious to see if he does bring this up in parliament or if he flipsflops.
Either way, based on reports, there were over 300 Tamils murdered by the Sri Lankan government just on the weekend.