Protest peaceful across the country

Source: Globe and Mail Update

Aside from a few morning disruptions in Eastern Ontario and near Montreal, the national day of protest organized by native Canadians was marked by peaceful marches in pockets across the country.

Ontario Provincial Police reopened Highway 401 just west of Kingston, Ont. by lunch hour, after natives had set up a blockade on a highway that police had cordoned off late Thursday night.

“People were concerned that it may be too much of an imposition and erode any support that there might be for First Nations' issues,” native protest leader Shawn Brant said from an overpass on top of the highway.

He added this was not a result of police intervention early Friday morning but merely a “gesture to the public.”



Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070629.wnati0629/BNStory/National/home

however, it wasn't peaceful for me. I was on the detour route used when the 401 and Route 2 were closed...a two-lane provincial road that had to cope with all that traffic. Woke me up at 1:45 am. I don't mind giving up a night's sleep for a good cause, either. However, when traffic, including beaucoup transports travelling between Montreal and Toronto usually allotted 8 lanes, is squeezed into two lanes and add to that truckers trying to "make-up" time (this was about a 3-hour detour, because both east/west roads were closed), havoc ensues. This traffic was flying. And sure enough, about 6 am there was the crash, squealing of brakes and exploding tires that make up a nice transport/small-car crash. Both vehicles landed in a ditch right in front of my house. I'm not sure how bad the driver of the car was hurt, but he was crawling away from the car as I called the ambulance. Still can't can't get that picture out of my head. So I guess peaceful is a relative term in this case.

Anyway, I wish them luck

I guess quite a relative term.

It seems to me quite volatile. I am amazed that it came off peacefully.

From the reports, it seems that there is quite a large range in objectives.

A phrase that comes to mind is "Let them eat cake".