Major Tamil protest takes place in downtown Toronto

A massive protest held by Toronto’s Tamil community Monday afternoon was progressing peacefully, Toronto police said, as thousands of Tamil supporters lined downtown sidewalks in opposition to violent attacks by the Sri Lankan military on Tamils in that country.

A human chain of as many as 30,000 protesters was being formed this afternoon, along a massive downtown square created by Yonge, Bloor, University and Front streets.

The rally was expected to create some traffic congestion in the downtown area, after demonstrators at a similar event in January flooded the streets making them impassable. Police were appealing for calm from both the public and protesters, and warned the rally could grow as the afternoon progressed.

"It has been very peaceful and part of the Toronto police service’s mission in this demonstration is to allow these protesters to have a peaceful and lawful demonstration, keeping in mind of course public safety," said Const. Wendy Drummond at a press scrum this afternoon.

Hundreds of people were already waving signs on sidewalks in the downtown core by lunch, waving Canadians flags alongside red ones with the tiger-sigul of the Tamil Tigers, a liberation party in Sri Lanka that has been added to international lists of terrorist organizations.

Old men holdings signs reading "Respect Tamil Sovereignty," stood next to parka-clad children waving flags larger than themselves, chanting pleas for liberation. Other protesters drove the route in cars, honking and waving flags.

Literature handed out along the route described the Sri Lankan civil war, which has raged for the past 26 years and resulted in the death of an estimated 70,000 people, as a "humanitarian catastrophe." It requested the international community demand a permanent cease fire and recognize the Tamil State.

Police presence along the route was more noticeable than during past events as groups of armed officers walked through the rally. Several ambulances and fire trucks could also be seen along the route. During the protest in January, participants intentionally blocked traffic, some even laying along the road.

Const. Drummond said protest organizers had been in contact with police and rally members were keeping to the public space of sidewalks.

"If we do a re-evaluation and find it may be necessary to close certain road ways, we will let the public know well in advance of those plans being put in place," Const. Drummond said.

The rally concluded just after 6 p.m.