Under the slogan "Support our troops, bring 'em home," as many as 500 demonstrators marched and hollered through the streets of downtown Ottawa yesterday, ending up at Parliament Hill to protest the Canadian military mission in Afghanistan and ask that the troops be pulled out immediately.
The Ottawa protest was one of many across Canada organized by the Student Coalition Against War, in which thousands demonstrated in a national day of action. Across the country, protests were held in 37 cities by antiwar groups, including the student coalition.
A total of 42 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have been killed since the Canadian military deployed to Afghanistan in early 2002.
The protests came a day after a new poll conducted for the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute found that 55 per cent of Canadians support "conventional combat missions" as long as the cause is just and progress is being made. The survey revealed that Canadians, although divided, were willing to send troops on dangerous missions as long as they believed in the military's goals.
Despite being passionate in their opposition to the mission by chanting things like "health care, day care, anything but warfare," and "not in our name," those who gathered made it clear they are in support of the troops.
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