Occupy your own beds, the Occupy Toronto protest at St. James Park was told today.
That from Justice David Brown, who was considering the city’s eviction notice against protesters sleeping in the park overnight as a part of the global Occupy movement.
The harsh tone with Occupy Toronto’s lawyers last Friday was an indication Justice Brown would side with the city. This morning, he did.
As per the original notice, protesters are forbidden from
i) installing, erecting or maintaining a tent, shelter or other structure and,
ii) using, entering or gathering in the park between the hours of 12:01 a.m. and 5:30 a.m.
Most of the judge’s objections to the protest, it seemed, was that he believed Occupy Toronto is limiting access to the park for the rest of the neighbourhood.
Furthing in the ruling, Brown reported that “the trespass notice would have the effect of ending the protesters monopoly of a public park” and “requiring them to share it with the rest of the public.”
He said the Occupiers still have “ample means left to express their message, including continued use of the park” though not after midnight.
Read the entire judgment here.
There is some discussion about moving the protest to the neighbouring church grounds.
There is also an argument to stay put, which many in the camp subscribed to, as this weekend they trained in ways to resist police eviction peacefully.
