Al-Quds Protest, Queen's Park, Toronto, 2009 - Video - Part 8

This video is a bit shaky at the beginning. I had left the crowd to take photos and get a good spot for taping as the people started on their march. For some reason, I thought they were going to start marching after Khaled Mouammar finished his speech.

But another man took the stand and started reading from a list of demands, so I turned my camera back on midway through his first demand. The most notable was #3: a condemnation of Prime Minister Harper's government for assigning a terrorist designation to Hamas and Hezbollah. The balding man in the crowd who boos this designation and shakes his finger against the government is the same man who demanded to know my name and affiliation (update: Ali Mallah, vice president of the Canadian Arab Federation). Sure, I'll give my name to a supporter of Hamas and Hezbollah; what could possibly go wrong?

The speaker told everyone to walk together and walk slowly to make it look like they were a bigger crowd and then they all started on their way. I taped part of the beginning of their march and then my camera's back-up battery died.

This is my final Al Quds Day protest video. I'll start on the Jesus in the City video tomorrow.

Al-Quds Protest, Queen's Park, Toronto, 2009 - Video - Part 7

This video shows the first part of a speech by Khaled Mouammar, president of the Canadian Arab Federation.

The back-up battery on my video camera was dying; I turned it off before he finished speaking because I hoped to have enough juice left to photograph the people as they marched.

There's one more video to come.

Al-Quds Protest, Queen's Park, Toronto, 2009 - Video - Part 6

This is the conclusion of Suzanne Weiss's speech (pay no attention to her mesmerizing shadow).

The rest of the speeches and the beginning of the march will have to wait until tomorrow.

Al-Quds Protest, Queen's Park, Toronto, 2009 - Video - Part 5

This video features the beginning of a speech by Suzanne Weiss. I'll post the conclusion as soon as it's been processed by YouTube.

As you watch, just try not to be mesmerized by her shadow. Go ahead, try: I dare you.

Jesus people vs Mohammed people - Recap

As I add video, my posts will be pushed off the front page, so here's a recap:

Part 1: Report

Part 2: Photos

Part 3: Photos

Part 4: Photos

Part 5: Photos

Part 6: Photos

Part 7: Photos

Part 8: Photos

Part 9: Photos

Al Quds Protest Video: Part 1
(featuring a man from Socialist Action and Farid Ayad, the president of Palestine House)

Al Quds Protest Video: Part 2
(featuring Karin Brothers, of the UCC Holy Land Awareness and Action Task Group)

Al Quds Protest Video: Part 3
(featuring a man whose name sounds like Sheikh Abdul Rahman Jamil)

Al Quds Protest Video: Part 4
(featuring James Clark of the Toronto Coalition to Stop the War)

Suzanne Weiss

Al Quds Protest Video: Part 5
(featuring the beginning of Suzanne Weiss's speech)

Al Quds Protest Video: Part 6
(featuring the conclusion of Suzanne Weiss's speech)

Al Quds Protest Video: Part 7
(featuring the first part of a speech by Khaled Mouammar, president of the Canadian Arab Federation; unfortunately, my camera battery was dying and I was unable to record his speech in its entirety)

Al Quds Protest Video: Part 8
(featuring an unknown speaker reading their list of demands -- including a condemnation of Prime Minister Harper's government's decision to list Hamas and Hezbollah as terrorist groups -- and the start of the protesters' march to the American consulate)

Al-Quds Protest, Queen's Park, Toronto, 2009 - Video - Part 4

This video features James Clark of the Toronto Coalition to Stop the War.

I'm taking a break now (but first I'm taking some Tylenol for a headache and aching shoulders). I have to go for a walk, stretch my muscles and clear my head.

The last bit will probably have to be broken into two parts. It takes time to split the clips and add titles, etc., then it takes time for iMovie to process it and upload it, and then it takes more time for YouTube to process it. I hope to be done with the Islamist He-Man Israel-haters party video by tonight. Wish me luck.

Coming up: "George Bush, where are you? I will throw my shoe at you!" Someone tell those guys there's a new man in the White House.

Al-Quds Protest, Queen's Park, Toronto 2009 - Video - Part 3

I can't begin to guess at the correct spelling of this speaker's name. It sounds like Sheikh Abdul Rahman Jamil to me. Does anyone know who he is?

Al-Quds Protest, Queen's Park, Toronto, 2009 - Video - Part 2

This video features Karin Brothers, a member of the United Church of Canada's Holy Land Awareness and Action Task Group.

Sister Brothers, take it away.

Al-Quds Protest, Queen's Park, Toronto, 2009 - Video - Part 1

This video features Barry Weisleder at the Socialist Action literature table, Farid Ayad, the president of Palestine House and Ali Mallah, vice-president of the Canadian Arab Federation. (I don't know the name of the man who emceed the event.)

Start watching around the 6:15 mark for my encounter with Ali Mallah who blocked me from videotaping and demanded to know my name "because you are with the JDL".

Update: Here's a transcript of our encounter. Note that this took place after I was denounced as a witch Zionist by Jesse M. Zimmerman. After my conversation with Ali Mallah who demanded to know my name, a man behind and to the left of me walked past me and bumped into me to get to the area to my right (where James Clark and his denouncer friend stood). On his way back to the left of me, the man knocked into me again (his arm/shoulder into my upper back). He wasn't off balance. If it had happened once, it might have been an accident, but after the second time, it was clear that it was deliberate.

Transcript

Ali Mallah of the Canadian Arab Federation: "...talk to you for a second?"

Me: "I'm taping."

Ali Mallah: "Sorry?"

Me: "I'm taping the uh..."

Ali Mallah: "And who, who are you with?"

Me: "I'm by myself."

Ali Mallah: "Yeah and what is your name?"

Me: "That's my business."

Ali Mallah: "It's not your business because you're with the JDL."

Me: "No, I am not."

Ali Mallah: "Yes, you were."

Me: "No, I am not."

Ali Mallah: "So, you're not."

Me: "I do not belong to the JDL."

Ali Mallah: "So you're not belong to the JDL."

Me: "No, I do not."

Ali Mallah: "And then what is your name? I give you my name, it is Ali Mallah. You don't wanna give me your name?"

Me: "No, I'm not going to give you my name because I know who you're with."

Ali Mallah: [leans closer to hear me]

Me: "I know who you're with. I'm not giving you my name."

Ali Mallah: "Are you journalist? Documentary?"

Me: "No."

Ali Mallah: "No? Okay. And you're saying you're not a JDL?"

Me: "I do not belong to the JDL."

Ali Mallah: "Okay. Thank you."

Update #2: Welcome, fellow fans and readers of Blazing Cat Fur!

Update #3: Welcome, readers of Sharpe Stick! Hey, another new blog to add to my favourites!

Update #4: More on Ali Mallah.

Jesus people vs Mohammed people - 9

Second photo from top: James Clark, of the Toronto Coalition to Stop the War, was a guest speaker at the Al-Quds Day protest. I recognized him from the Michael Coren Show. He seemed shy about having his photo taken by a Zionist (after his buddy denounced me).

Jesus people vs Mohammed people - 8

On offer at the Socialist Action table at the Al-Quds protest. Note the pamphlet in defence of Mumia.

As with all my photos, click to enlarge.

Jesus people vs Mohammed people - 7

Jesus people vs Mohammed people - 6

Jesus people vs Mohammed people - 5

Jesus people vs Mohammed people - 4

Jesus people vs Mohammed people - 3

Jesus people vs Mohammed people - 2

Jesus people vs Mohammed people - 1

Judging by numbers alone, I'd say the Jesus people won the day. The Christians had a much better turnout at Queen's Park for their Jesus in the City parade than the Muslims (and their anti-Israel allies) who were "celebrating" Al-Quds Day. ("Celebrating" as in denouncing almost everyone and demanding the Canadian government lift its terrorist designation from Hamas and Hezbollah.)

As a bonus, on the return lap of the Jesus in the City parade, their music almost drowned out the anti-Israel speeches and chants. Make a joyful noise, indeed.

I've been on my feet for five hours and I'm exhausted. My camera's battery is exhausted, too, so we both need to re-energize a bit.

Not once when I was amongst the Christians did anyone block me from taping or demand to know my name and affiliation. Everywhere I turned, people smiled at me. They were happy and couldn't help but spread that happiness around. During their praise and worship service, I thought a few times, "This is what heaven is like". (Yeah, I'm religious like that.)

While I wouldn't say the Al Quds gathering was hell, it would qualify as hellish.

I was one of the few women not wearing a black hijab and long, black over-garment, and I'm as white as they come, so I stood out like a sore thumb. Everything was fine until a young Jewish man Jesse M. Zimmerman recognized me from the Dead Sea Scrolls protest. He Jesse Zimmerman got in my face with his camera and walked around me, while ostentatiously taking several photos of me. He circled me, saying, "Zionist. Zionist. Zionist. Zionist," in a voice loud enough for others to hear. The woman behind me repeated it a few times: "Zionist, Zionist, Zionist." As the young man Zimmerman rushed over to report to his friends that there was a Zionist in their midst, I almost expected to hear them all cry, "Burn her! Burn the witch!"

A couple of minutes later, a middle-aged Arab man -- Ali Mallah, vice-president of the Canadian Arab Federation -- stood directly in front of me and blocked me from videotaping the speaker who was addressing the crowd. He demanded to know my name and my affiliation.

The confrontation went something like this (I'm paraphrasing because I can't check my video just yet):

Ali Mallah: "What is your name? Who are you with?"

Me: "I'm not telling you my name."

Ali Mallah: "I'll tell you my name, it's ________. What is your name?"

Me: "I'm not telling you my name because I know who you're with."

Ali Mallah: "Are you a journalist?"

Me: "No."

Ali Mallah: "Is this for a documentary?"

Me: "No."

Ali Mallah: "Are you with the JDL?"

Me: "No."

Ali Mallah: "You are not with the JDL?"

Me: "I am not a member of the JDL."

With that, he walked away.

What would he have done if I had been a member of the JDL? Get the cops and have me ejected from the grounds of Queen's Park for standing quietly and videotaping a public event in a public place? Why, that would be apartheid. In fact, come to think of it, his questioning of me qualifies as apartheid. I was the only person questioned in such a manner, all because I was a non-Muslim and a Zionist. What is this, Iran? Why do these people think they can enforce Islamic law (sharia) in a non-Muslim country?

From heavenly to hellish in the space of one afternoon in downtown Toronto.

Thankfully, the Jesus people filled me up with enough joy and strength to withstand the anger and hatred I later received from the Mohammed people.

I know whose side I'm on.

A big thank-you to Blazing Cat Fur for his blog post which informed me of these events.

I hope to have video up on Monday.

Update: Welcome, fellow readers & fans of Blazing Cat Fur!

Update #2: Welcome, readers of Square Mile Wife! She writes that she learned of my blog via Blazing Cat Fur and I've just learned of her blog the same way! Check out her excellent report and photos of a boycott against Ahava products yesterday (in London, England I think).

Update #3: Welcome, fellow readers & fans of Small Dead Animals!

Update #4: Welcome, readers of Stubble Jumping Redneck! Wow, another great blog that I'm just learning about!

Update #5: Welcome, fellow readers & fans of Scaramouche!

Update #6: Updated to identify Ali Mallah, vice-president of the Canadian Arab Federation and Jesse M. Zimmerman of York University and the NDP.