“Canada’s Chapter” in the Invasion of Cambodia

STORY BY: Shane Roberts
YEAR: 1970
LOCATION: Toronto, ON

In May, 1970, Shane was an undergrad at the University of Waterloo, one of the campuses which exploded in reaction to the US invasion of Cambodia. A draft dodger himself, he boarded a bus for Toronto, where a demonstration began as a rock concert in Nathan Phillips Square. He was one of 4000 people who then marched on the US Consulate and one of 90 people who were dragged off to the Don Jail. This response from Toronto police angered the crowd, many of whom then rampaged down Yonge St, throwing bricks and making the next day's papers. This riot marks “Canada's chapter” in the invasion of Cambodia. Thanks for sharing, Shane.