photo from yesterday, day 1 of protest
PROTEST EVENING POSTMORTEM:
I know that this small protest did reach the FIsters attending the conference and put them on notice–because most refused to look us in the eye.
This protest happened because of the dedication of on-site protesters including Atticus, Marie, Northernstar, Peter, Tricia, and WhiteKat, those (including Blaze and James Jatras) who helped in preparation of the letter to the Canadian Bankers Association that was critical to the protest, and because of the others I am not certain that I can mention.
Amazing people, all.
On-site coverage from IRSCompliantForever :
15.54. A last goodbye from all of us to the banksters.
15:03. Banker from small bank who hates FATCA just signed petition.
14:24. AttIcus just explained FATCA to passerby. Response was “Well, the banks need a little (words deleted).”
14:14. Banksters we meet all express sympathy but insist that there is no way to prevent FATCA. So many passerbys wondering about this FATCA word.
13:18. Fellow from one of the major banks visited with us had a friendly chat and accepted the CBA letter. He asked that we not disclose the name of his bank. Banksters are also taking pictures of us.
12.55. Another passerby came up to us expressing concern that her daughter has a Green Card.
Reports and photos of earlier today and yesterday after the jump
12:53. A passerby just came up to us expressing concern that she was born to a US parent and asked whether FATCA applied. Atticus explained and the woman thanked us for being here.
11:23. Unexpectedly another protester arrived with signs. Someone we all know.
11:13. Police have arrived again.
10:51. Nice sunny day. One bankster inside gave us the thumbs up. We had a nice chat with two reps of a major FI who accepted the CBA letter.
***
Day 1 of Protest – Yesterday, 13 November
13:40. Stuck on a narrow curb.
13:07. New development. Head of security informed us that we had to move to the curb in which we must remain 18 inches from the street. I called the police to resolve. Three police officers came and tried to intervene with security, but security refused as walkway is technically on private property. Want to emphasize that police tried their very best to help us. We will try not to tip over on curb. Lots of interest from passerbys. Morale very high.
12:50
12:46
12:13. Above is a photo of four Brocker/Sandboxers taken by a sympathetic passerby. Note that the person holding the “Do not marry an American” sign is a guest Brocker who is a kindly non-US spouse of a US person. She strongly supports the message of the sign and wants to be known as @LauraSecord. Small group but morale is high.
11:09. Met a fellow working for a bank. He says FATCA is painful.
11:02. Tricia, Marie, NorthernStar and IRSCompliantForever just spoke to a very friendly and receptive journalist who will include mention of our protest in an article He also said that this is the first FATCA protest he is aware of. We cannot mention name of journalist. We are pointing signs at the conference room. Doors are closed now so that banksters cannot see us.
09:37. Peter is standing immediately in front of the conference meeting room. We can see them and they can see us. But we cannot enter.
07:33. Peter and I are on site. We were told us that we would be arrested if we entered building. Tried to leave CBA letters but conference organizer refused and noted that our comments on IBS about CBA were inflammatory.
***
The conference is “Canadian Institute’s 19th Annual REGULATORY COMPLIANCE for Financial Institutions” at the North Building of the Metro Convention Centre in Toronto which has been brought to our attention through the diligence of @Tricia. http://www.regulatorycomplianceforfis.com/
@All
How about a sing for the bankers on Theiir FATCA Responsible Officer , Personal Liability?
Sorry distant lately, have been getting my life back!
I may not be able to be there the entire time but will join in the protest.
@Tricia
YAY!!!! Great , all the merrier. and the better.
I know what you mean about getting your life back. This is very very intense.
@Tricia–Great news!!! We are leaving “handful” soon to enter “throng” status.
Thursday might be a more important day, but I am still hoping that we will have the numbers (and signs) for a protest on both Wednesday and Thursday.
There may well be participants who will not have RSVP’d online or by email prior to the event on the 14th. Reading here will help last minute drop-ins.
It looks like we have more people available for Thursday, than for Wednesday, and we definitely want Brocker coverage for BOTH DAYS (right guys?) so anyone who thinks they can help out on Wednesday, please let ComplianceNever@gmail.com know as soon as you can.
@ all
I will be there both days. I am making signs as well, send your suggestions to here or compliancenever @gmail.com
I’ll be there at least Thursday and possibly Weds late afternoon. Glad you are coming Trish!
I’ve been watching some livestreaming of the “Million Mask March” in DC. Pretty good turn out there but I wish they wouldn’t throw out that million number — it just gets discouraging when the numbers are in the hundreds. Northernstar will enjoy the Guy Fawkes masks at least.
http://new.livestream.com/JamesFromTheInternet/events/2318191
@Em
Very interesting..It is over It was The day in England…lots of fireworks.
TOMORROW!
Minister of Finance to Launch Pre-Budget Consultations in Toronto
Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty will be available to the media prior to holding pre-budget consultations on Thursday, November 7, 2013.
The media availability will take place at 9:00 a.m. in the Queen’s Park Rotunda of the Royal Ontario Museum, 110 Queen’s Park Street, in Toronto, Ontario. (Please use main entrance on Bloor street.)
A photo opportunity will follow.
http://www.fin.gc.ca/notices-avis13/2013-11-06-eng.asp
GREAT DISCOVERY!!
I will try to drop by.
@Em, I’ve been trying to follow that too!
@Bubblebustin
I wish I didn’t live so far away…I would be there.
@IRSCompliantForevery
I hope you can make it…and let us know what is said….
Maybe bring some petitions and flyers to hand out.. and let the Media know about our protest next week.
Has anyone thought about putting an anti-FATCA sign on your lawn? I’m considering “John Weston – say NO to FATCA” (my MP) That way people will know it has something to do with gubbermint, not weight loss.
bubblebustin,
I actually was thinking of doing just that with my FATCA protest sign from last week. I have lots of left-over hand-outs too that I could leave — except they might present a litter problem. There are lots of people walking past my house each day on their way to work in downtown Calgary. I put a sign on my front yard for my Councillor candidate of choice — why not anti-FATCA? I might meet some fellow US Persons and, hopefully, not anti-American persons in the vein of “Yankee Go Home.”
@ bubblebustin
I can tell you are just bustin’ to protest. 🙂 Your time will come. Meanwhile, absolutely why not a NO to FATCA sign? It would also be a conversation starter with neighbours and as I’ve said before, FATCA awareness needs to be stuffed into every nook and cranny possible.
@Bubblebustin
our ONR railroad was closed down…People put signs up to ONR NOT FOR SALE – no passenger no more
Around Pickering , people put signs up NO AIRPORT. – that delayed it a couple decades but it is coming.
Around Caledon there were signs NO Quarry…- that worked.
but up here FATCA – nope…people don’t care.
@Calgary,
A suggestion for your left-over handouts, I’ve been leaving FATCA fact sheets at the public library, community centre, coffee shops that have a shelf for magazines and pamphlets, also telephone poles (which reminds me, the city takes the posters off the poles the 1st of the month — we have designated poster-poles here — I should get out there again).
@ tweeters
Can anyone place a complaint when a tweeter tweets the same tweets, over and over again? Ramam Suprajarama is going comtweetly mad here …
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23fatca&f=realtime
Although I do like seeing the link to Blaze’s OPN article, the other ones are compliance mongering as Just Me calls it.
Thanks for the words of encouragement!
@Em
“Comtweetly mad” – you crack me up! I tot I taw a puddy tat, or was dat a FATcat?
@Em
He works for a banking company that manages and helps in IT with new technology, software. Of course he is supremely happy and salivating at the profits his company is going to make helping the poor banks with FATCA compliance….I like that “Comtweetly mad’ . He sure does not want to see us succeed.
@Pacifica777
I wish I lived in a town of many people..I tried the library..no could do. It is very parochial up here. People are not interested. I am considered the crazy lady from “the south”.
Following up on Bubblebustin’s discovery of a presentation by Finance Minister Flaherty at Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum, I entered the ROM this morning to ask Flaherty a question.
Wearing suit and tie I was immediately escorted, without any questions, by three different guards to the media room, but then unfortunately a Finance official asked for my name and organization.
Back on the street, I passed out an easy to read question for the Minister to the following news organizations: CTV news, Globe and Mail, New Tang Dynasty Television, Business News Network, Canadian press, and Sun News (and to a friendly ROM guard unfamiliar with FATCA).
The only media to refuse the question was the Wall Street Journal–but after walking away from me the reporter turned and asked: “What organization are you with?”–to which I replied “Repeal FATCA.”
Probably unlikely that the media posed the question to Flaherty, but you never know.
We can argue over which question is best. A group effort produced:
“Mr. Flaherty: NDP and now Liberal MPs are criticizing your negotiations to enforce, with help of the big banks, the US FATCA law, violating rights of Canadians.
What do you say to the opposition?— and when will your Ministry answer detailed question from MPs Ted Hsu and Scott Brison about the negotiations?”
@IRScompliant, Well, Jim Jatras is very happy. I suppose you wouldn’t want to say, “Isaac Brock” since so few Canadians even know who Isaac Brock, and zero Americans have a clue who he is since they have conveniently and collectively forgotten about their failed invasion of Canada two hundred years ago. I don’t know how many times I’ve had to explain this to people.
But as a symbol of preparation and defense of Canada–as a symbol of successful personal sacrifice to defend his country against the United States–no other hero surpasses Brock.