(no subject)

[moon_custafer]

Went to the counter-demo at Nathan Philips Square. I think the Anti-Muslim demo we were countering were over on the east side of the square. There were police (some in riot gear) standing guard near them, and our marshals were trying to keep us over at the other side, though I think some of the counter-demonstrators had gone over anyway, as there were some signs on the fringes of the their crowd that didn't seem to fit. I think their actual numbers were relatively small. Meanwhile we did keep edging closer to the centre of the square, following the sunbeams like a cat.

Feeling like a coward, though, because I didn't confront the guy I saw waiting for the bus at Queen/Roncesvalles on the way home, who was yelling racist stuff at a motorist, and then more general stuff at his own dog and at the bus driver. The driver did report him for animal cruelty though.

Comments

[stardreamer]

When you're female, there's always a calculus to confronting an angry guy. And the larger, angrier, and/or more irrational he is, the riskier it is -- will this be the time that he "snaps" and pulls out a gun, or just beats the shit out of me? Paying attention to your own physical safety isn't wrong or cowardly.

[moon_custafer]

*sigh* I know. And some of it was me being confused as to whether he was really saying what he seemed to be saying, and I suppose the fact that the guy he was yelling at was in a car and in no physical danger contributed.... but I just felt like a hypocrite, considering where I'd been.

Empathy

[dewline]

Understandable, both the reluctance and the concerns about the other thing.

[dewline]

It is so good to my peace of mind - what there is of it these days - to see those counter-protests. We didn't see a similar event in Ottawa, much to my surprise.