Rally held for raw milk crusader Michael Schmidt – Toronto

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People stand with signs in front of Queen's Park while rallying in support of raw milk producer, Michael Schmidt. The people want the right to buy raw milk directly from the farmer.

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Ian Graham holds up a sign in front of Queen's Park while rallying in support of raw milk producer, Michael Schmidt on Tuesday, October 25th, 2011.

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People stand with signs in front of Queen's Park while rallying in support of raw milk producer, Michael Schmidt. Schmidt is on a hunger strike protesting a court decision barring him from selling raw milk to the public.

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Ian Graham makes a sign in front of Queen's Park while rallying in support of raw milk producer, Michael Schmidt on Tuesday, October 25th, 2011.

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Kids enjoy some milk in front of Queen's Park while rallying in support of raw milk producer, Michael Schmidt on Tuesday, October 25th, 2011.

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People hold signs in front of Queen's Park while rallying in support of raw milk producer, Michael Schmidt on Tuesday, October 25th, 2011.

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People hold up signs in front of Queen's Park while rallying in support of raw milk producer, Michael Schmidt. Why support alcohol, and cigarettes and not raw milk is written on one of the signs.

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Kids stand with signs in front of Queen's Park while rallying in support of raw milk producer, Michael Schmidt on Tuesday, October 25th, 2011.

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People stand with signs in front of Queen's Park while rallying in support of raw milk producer, Michael Schmidt on Tuesday, October 25th, 2011.

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Gary Tripp holds up a sign in front of Queen's Park while rallying in support of raw milk producer, Michael Schmidt on Tuesday, October 25th, 2011.

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Lori, Mike and John hold up signs in front of Queen's Park while rallying in support of raw milk producer, Michael Schmidt on Tuesday, October 25th, 2011.

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People hold up signs in front of Queen's Park while rallying in support of raw milk producer, Michael Schmidt on Tuesday, October 25th, 2011.

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People stand with signs in front of Queen's Park while rallying in support of raw milk producer, Michael Schmidt. One sign reads "My body my choice".

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Gary Tripp stands with a sign in front of Queen's Park while rallying in support of raw milk producer, Michael Schmidt on Tuesday, October 25th, 2011.

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Gary Tripp and Sibernie James-Bosch hold up signs in front of Queen's Park while rallying in support of raw milk producer, Michael Schmidt. One sign reads "Keep my right to buy food directly from the farmer".

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Lyndon Kirkley wears a Glen Colton Farms shirt in front of Queen's Park while rallying in support of raw milk producer, Michael Schmidt on Tuesday, October 25th, 2011.

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Ernst Von Bezold stands with a sign reading "Food freedom, right to choose RAW MILK", in front of Queen's Park while rallying in support of raw milk producer, Michael Schmidt.

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People stand with signs in front of Queen's Park while rallying in support of raw milk producer, Michael Schmidt on Tuesday, October 25th, 2011.

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Amy Ouchterlony and Ian Graham do an interview in front of Queen's Park while rallying in support of raw milk producer, Michael Schmidt on Tuesday, October 25th, 2011.

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Amy Ouchterlony and Ian Graham stand with signs in front of Queen's Park while rallying in support of raw milk producer, Michael Schmidt on Tuesday, October 25th, 2011.

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People hold up signs in front of Queen's Park while rallying in support of raw milk producer, Michael Schmidt on Tuesday, October 25th, 2011.

Report current story

Around 50 people gathered outside of Queen’s Park to show solidarity with farmer and raw milk crusader, Michael Schmidt, who has been on a hunger strike protesting the court's decision to not allow him to sell raw milk. Canada. 25th October 2011.

Around 50 people rallied in front of Queen's Park today to show solidarity with raw milk crusader, Michael Schmidt, and to ask Premier Dalton McGuinty to meet with the beleaguered farmer. Schmidt is now on day 25 of a hunger strike and according to his spokesperson was unable to attend the rally due to low energy levels.
The Durham area farmer runs a raw milk co-op, which was raided in 2006 by inspectors from the Ministry of Natural Resources. Schmidt was brought up on charges for violating Ontario’s public health and milk-marketing rules, for which he was found to be not guilty in early 2010. The Ontario Court of Justice, finding Schmidt guilty on 15 of the 19 charges laid, recently overruled that previous verdict.
Mr. Schmidt's current hunger strike is in protest to this ruling. He will continue fasting until he is allowed to meet with Ontario Premier McGuinty to openly discuss the pasteurization issue and the freedom of consumers to choose.
Currently Canada is the only G8 country that does not allow the sale and distribution of raw milk.