[GOC]: A City of Protests

[Nathan]

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On a chilly Morning in Downtown Ottawa, the morning activity of the city was just beginning. People and businesses went about their daily business as normal.

In Macdonald Gardens park, opposite the Turkish Embassy in Ottawa, a trickle of people had slowly been working it's way into the park throughout the early morning, by 10am the number had swelled to a grand total of 10,000 people, spilling out onto nearby streets. The crowd was made up for the national stop the war coalition. The park was so dense in people that the white snow was virtually covered by the demonstrators.. This would be perfectly visible to the staff of the Turkish high-rise embassy. Signs were help up while members of the crowd sang changes of "Stop The war", "No Nazis", "Nazi Scum, off our streets", "No justice no peace". Signs showed the Turkish President with a Hitler moustache and other derogatory remarks.

The crowd was made up of normal every day people, many from different ethnic backgrounds including Turkish and Judaism. Some from East and some from West Canada. Each member had come together to protest the injustice caused by the Turkish government.

The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) have deployed 216 officers deployed into their own serials, split into teams of 27. Of the teams, 5 Teams held the perimeter of the fence outside of the Turkish Embassy. They were dressed in riot body armour, but had their helmets strapped to their belts. Behind them, police vans stored their shields and batons if needed. The remaining 3 teams are held in reserve on Tormey street. 6 Mounted officers are also patrolling the area. 10 Patrol officers are also present, intermingling with the crowd as police liaison officers. A team of 6 Dog handlers are deployed on the main police line. A bearcat with 7 Tactical team members is also out of sight, but in the area.

Security at Parliament Hill and the parliament area remained as per normal, but the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have reinforced the area with 54 officers in riot vans. A RCMP Police helicopter circles ahead.

The protest continues, but remains peaceful. Further, but smaller, protests are also happening in Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton and Quebec.

Axis12