Disobedient, yet civil

On Monday afternoon, a handful of peaceful protestors staged a roving sit-in to block the scrubber truck sent to remove the Jarvis bike lanes. It worked (for the time being), another case of civil disobedience winning out in Toronto. Here are some other examples:

» 1969: The “Stop Spadina, Save Our City Co-ordinating Committee” embarked on a campaign against the extension of the Allen Expressway, which was slated to carve a path from the 401 all the way down Spadina. The group, which counted Jane Jacobs and Marshall McLuhan among its supporters, eventually got the project cancelled in 1971.

» 1980: The residents of Ward’s and Algonquin islands faced off against an eviction notice–bearing sheriff. Since 1956, the city had been trying to remove all the residents from the island to make way for a massive public park. The residents were eventually given 99-year leases.

» 2008: Rumours that Starbucks was considering opening a location in Kensington Market prompted many area residents to sign petitions and poster the proposed storefront at 234 Augusta Ave. The site eventually became the home of Tasty Corner restaurant.

» 2010: Protesters took to the streets to rage against the G20. Oh, wait, never mind.