Update 10:15pm Annnnnnd, that's a wrap folks! Protesters are dispersing among chants of "Solidarity Forever". Special thanks to TMC's media team who were a force to be reckoned with on Twitter and the streets today. Stay tuned for video coverage from TMC folks and check out other coverage from @BasicsCNS! Good night!
9:02 Porter Strikers are thanking folks for the continuous support they've received. Meanwhile, another action by PRAC is now leaving from Moss park in the East end of Toronto. Lots happening tonight! (read more below after the jump)
Porter workers fighting for health & safety. They appreciate the support of those marching in #May1TOtwitpic.com/cngt5g
— Toronto Media Coop (@TOmediacoop) May 2, 2013
8:46 march is approaching little norway park to support porter workers
8:34 A large contingent is still with the march heading to support striking Porter workers
Still crossing the bridge. #May1TOtwitpic.com/cngo4x
— Toronto Media Coop (@TOmediacoop) May 2, 2013
7:40 The masses have stopped in front of Joe Fresh on Queen St. About two dozen cops have barricaded the place and the entire complex has been shut down. Several speakers are talking about migrant rights in the Philippines before Sharmeen Khan speaks about Joe Fresh's choice to hire contractors for their clothes; contractors who forced people to return to an unsafe building which collapsed. Other activists involved in solidarity campaigns in Bangladesh speak as well before organizers try to deliver a letter to management at Joe Fresh. Management refuses to receive their letter.
March stopped @joefresh at Queen & Bathurst #May1TOtwitpic.com/cngf97
— Toronto Media Coop (@TOmediacoop) May 1, 2013
6:45 the March is now at full capacity and redy to leave. Two head counts by the TMC have counted 1200 folks here!
March is leaving the square now, 1200 strong. Go toronto! #may1to #canlab #mayday
— Megan Kinch (@meganysta) May 1, 2013
5:50: Things are gearing up with folks starting to congregate at City hall in the hundreds for the Mayday Rally. It's beautiful here! Our mini-cabal of journalists and media-makers are now heading to the Rally in full force to document the comings and goings. Because of this, updates on the site will likely be intermittent, but check out our field correspondents on twitter for up-to-the minute updates: @TOmediacoop , @meganysta, @q_e_d, @BasicsCNS, @geordiedent and @alexf_ramblings
The march is going to be heading West on Bathurst and should stop near Joe Fresh for an action before heading South to Little Norway Park near Porter Airlines for a solidarity action with striking Porter workers (More coverage here).
Stories will be coming out shortly after the march. Also check out some current action from our folks in the field (below the jump):
Stop Worker Deaths in Bangladesh #May1TOtwitpic.com/cnfzv5
— Toronto Media Coop (@TOmediacoop) May 1, 2013
Hundreds gathering near City Hall for Toronto's annual #Mayday march.
— hackjob (@hackj0b) May 1, 2013
People assembling for #may1TO twitter.com/NikkiBozinoff/…
— Nikki Bozinoff (@NikkiBozinoff) May 1, 2013
PHOTO: @ TO City Hall, pre-#May1TO! Bourgouis Touring... #solidaritycity #MayDay Rally gathering now! twitter.com/BayanCanTO/sta…
— alex felipe (@alexf_ramblings) May 1, 2013
We are getting ready to march!#May1TO. #14now twitter.com/WorkersAC/stat…
— WorkersActionCentre (@WorkersAC) May 1, 2013
#DontFlyPorter COPE representing at #May1TOtwitpic.com/cng098
— Toronto Media Coop (@TOmediacoop) May 1, 2013
5:00: Joe Fresh protest today during the Mayday March. From the call-to-action for the event:
"Joe Fresh is one of many capitalist corporations that gets cheap clothes made in Bangladeshi factories. Last week, over 300 workers were killed as one of these factories collapsed in Savar, while another 1,000 are still missing in the rubble. Bangladeshi workers are paid less than $3/day and work in dangerous conditions making cheap clothes for richer countries."
Joe Fresh labels were found in the factory along with labels of Primark, Cato, The Children's Place and Benetton. After their clothing was found in the rubble of the collapsed factory, Joe Fresh announced they would pay compensation to the familes of victims from the factory collapse.
But they didn't offer this before their labels were found...
"No More Blood for Fashion" - Joe Fresh workers stop poster. #May1TO #TOpolitwitpic.com/cnfms3
— Toronto Media Coop (@TOmediacoop) May 1, 2013
4:40: Occupy Gardens folks have started to dig up Queen's park. (See Below)
Peoples pease garden by @occupygardensto is reclaimed. #may1to #mayday #permaculture twitter.com/meganysta/stat…
— Megan Kinch (@meganysta) May 1, 2013
4:15. No One Is Illegal has a new project focusing on Solidarity City.
#May1TO, #MayDay2013: Solidarity City! Status for All! Decolonize Now! Image Series from @nooneisillegal: is.gd/9CuPFA #TOpoli
— Toronto Media Coop (@TOmediacoop) May 1, 2013
3:30pm: Follow @alexf_ramblings as he checks out a Mayday event at City Hall
3:00pm: News and photos are coming in. Numerous folks from TMC and BASIC's are covering Occupy Gardens event at Queen's Park which started at 1pm. We have 15 people covering today's events.
MT @meganysta: Hundreds gather at queens park for @occupygardensto #May1TO event. #toronto #topoli #permacullture is.gd/w4wxrM
— Toronto Media Coop (@TOmediacoop) May 1, 2013
#May1To #FreeFood4All so much lovage twitter.com/OccupyGardensT…
— OccupyGardensTO (@OccupyGardensTO) May 1, 2013
3:00pm: Massive, free picnic about to begin.
2:00pm: After a meal, participants are breaking out into workshops.
1:30pm: Occupy Gardens has started at Queens Park
Watch this page for live coverage of Mayday events as they happen from the Toronto Media Co-op and our friends at Basics Community News Service. TMC and Basics reporters will be live on scene all day, just as we were last year. At the end of the day, we'll consoldiate all our reporting into one main story (see 2012 Mayday story here)
Also watch our main twitter feed @TOmediacoop as well as our contributer twitter feeds , @meganysta, @q_e_d, @BasicsCNS, @geordiedent
Read BASICS' pre Mayday coverage of Occupy Gardens and the Porter Airlines Strike.
Here's a tentative lest of events we'll be covering: