F4J On Canadian Socialist NDP’s Roof

Police have laid trespassing charges after protesters dressed as superheroes dropped a banner from the roof of federal NDP Leader Jack Layton’s Toronto office on Friday. The demonstrators, one dressed as Spider-Man and the other as Plywood Man, said they were protesting for family law reform for fathers in custody disputes. The incident at 221 Broadview Ave., near Dundas Street, was organized by Fathers 4 Justice. Heavily armed Emergency Task Force officers responded to the incident and evacuated employees from the building as a precaution. The man dressed as Spider-Man had planned to rappel down from the roof, but later surrendered to police.

However, Plywood Man refused to turn himself in. Officers used some kind of explosive device as a distraction and then moved in and made the arrest. The men face charges of trespassing, mischief and vandalism. The protest tied up police for hours. Layton, who wasn’t in the office, said he doesn’t know much about the group or why his office was targeted. “It really just came out of the blue,” Layton told CTV Newsnet. Fathers 4 Justice has photos on its website of men dressed as superheroes protesting at locations across Canada.