Toronto Picket report 11 August 2001
Picketers: Android Cat, Slippery Jim, yduzitmatter, Kaeli, Zeratul, Nan
McLean, and special guest: Arel Lucas.
110 ft: Keith Henson.
Time: 1pm.
We met yduzitmatter (Kim P.) at Union Station at 10 o'clock, and we set
off to have coffee at the Starbucks. We met with Slippery Jim, then
Keith and Arel came into the Starbucks as well.
At that point (around 12:45pm) we retrieved our signs and leaflets and
proceeded to walk to the Org. Keith stood 110 ft north of the Org, while
the rest of us proceeded on to the Org.
As we approached and began picketing, Zeratul said he could hear Mario
saying, "Damn! Damn! Damn!" It was noticed they were on the phones as
well during this time period as well, on both land and cell-lines.
One of the handlers standing outside, who has a shaven head and was
quite tall, asked me what happened to my wrists. I didn't answer, and
just kept walking.
Android Cat joined us, and about 20 minutes later, Nan McLean joined in
as well.
At one point, it was noticed that a passer by was taking pictures of the
Org itself and even of the one taking pictures of us. Mario yelled at
him something about contacting his boss or something to that effect.
Then he turned to both me and yduzitmatter, and yelled at us to "do
something about him." Both of us answered back with, "I have no idea who
he was, and he isn't with us." He mumbled something like "sure, yeah
right.." and I re-affirmed the comment with: "Sorry, I *really* have no
idea who he is."
At one point, the shaven headed man was speaking on his cell phone,
using the word "jail" very loudly. At another picket, Mario was also
holding up white pieces of paper written out in blue ink, and one of the
words they had was the word "jail."
I assumed most likely they were button pushing, and attempting to get a
response from us.
Other than that and yduzitmatter's description of the man on the bicycle
speaking with Android Cat, it was a quiet, uneventful picket, with the
Org playing music from one of their CDs.. not sure which one it was, but
the music sounded good, if you don't listen to the lyrics :)
I believe near the end of the picket, Android Cat apologized to Mario
for the un-announced pickets of the Toronto ARSCC (wdnee) and Mario
replied back (paraphrased) "I would think that apology is genuine, if
you were human."
At 2:45pm, we called it a day. I said "Laters" to the body-routers at
the Org, and one of them responded back with, "See you later."
We then proceeded to the Artful Dodger for refreshments, until it was
time to take yduzitmatter back to Union Station for the train ride back
home.
All in all, a quiet picket, and the weather was sunny and warm without
the humidity of the last week.
Kaeli.
12 Aug 2001
kaeli@klis.com