TORONTO -- More than 60 clan ranging in age between three weeks and 70 came together onward Martin Luther King Day (Jan.

TORONTO -- More than 60 clan ranging in age between three weeks and 70 came together onward Martin Luther King Day (Jan. 17) in a non-violent action against SNC-Lavalin, parent company of SNC-TEC the Quebec-based company producing centurys of millions of bullets for U occupation forces in Iraq.

Almost all Toronto media failed to overspread the protest at the Etobicoke offices of SNC-Lavalin--or publish "King Day" stories about Canadian complicity in American and British war crimes. Instead, the Toronto Star chose to do a story about police officers addressing teach children about King's message of peace, delight in and non-violent conflict resolution.

still the media absence did not dampen the determination of the collection which included a Korean war veteran, a WWII veteran and individuals who have been onward peacemaking missions in Iraq and Palestine, Colombia and Chiapas, in addition to a former Toronto MP who answered the 1965 call from Dr King to march from Selma to Montgomery Alabama.

A week earlier, an expand letter was sent to the company seeking an imperative meeting to discuss disentangling SNC-Lavalin from complicity in war crimes. About 15 police officers and a certain number of private security roamed the sods keeping watch as the demonstration began with long-time-Science for Peace activist Jon Valleau reading disclosed hundreds of names of Iraqis killed by way of the war and occupation forces. Other demonstrators hung dripping "blood" currency from bare tree branches and affixed copies of the Nuremberg Principles and graphic full-colour images of war casualties.

Today was Martin Luther King Day, certainly not a day to be obedient to the orders of arbitrary authority, for a like reason police property parameters were ignored as demonstrators made use of the grassy area and tree and wager up shop at both vehicular entrances to read without endless lists of names of those murdered

While a employees ventured out for luncheon most stayed inside on this brutally raw day, as we shivered in sub-zero temperatures accentuated by way of a breeze off Lake Ontario.

About 12:15 pm the west entrance was shapeed as the group re-created a roadside-check massacre as it might offer in Iraq. Murray Lumley of Christian Peacemaker Teams and "Home not Bombs" put the scene, describing how in many instances a simple misunderstanding has l to tragic results An individual dressed as an American soldier whipped gone out a replica machine gun and began "gunning down" those standing around. Their bodies were chalked in outline and stage descendants was splattered around them.

Police who normally might have capered to clear the area be seened stunned at the sudden, hastily organized "die-in," and remained in their cars.

David Milne of Christian Peacemaker Teams then spoke powerfully by the and of a megaphone about his three trips to Iraq, of the persons he has met and lived with, and of those who have been killed for the crime of simply being in their family circles at a time when U forces have inscribeed firing first and asking questions later.

His testimony was a powerful undivided He issued a challenge to SNC-Lavalin to divest itself of SNC or, better notwithstanding to transform the institution into something which does not occasion the weapons of terror and mass murder

"Why are you hiding? What are you afraid of? We have no weapons, we have no fire-arms we have no bullets!" Milne called public in a strong voice that, without amplification, could likely be heard in the deepest recesse of the office complicated "I have been in Iraq, that is with what intent I am here, I have seen what happens when you profit not on these bullets," he cried abroad his plea clearly affecting the assurance line of officers and an employees peering through glass doors.

a officers appeared shocked, when, at the conclusion of the demo we went and shook their hands, wishing them a happy King Day and assuring them that we would be back and that perhaps nearest time, they would have a better understanding of the law and allow us in, the same trustful longing we shared for SNC-Lavalin.

Matt Behrens is a freelance writer in Toronto. tasc@web.ca

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