Three weeks into the controversy, the demonstration occurred, lasting approximately two hours. Protesters held signs that said, for example, "Honk if you hate Gypsies", "Canada is not a Trash Can", and "G.S.T. — Gypsies Suck Taxes". (The last is a reference to Canada's unpopular Goods and Services Tax, also known as GST.) The protesters did not refer to "Roma". Police described the protest as "peaceful". The trial judge agreed. One of the two lead detectives testified that the "essential message" of the demonstrators "was that "gypsy refugee claimants" should not be permitted to stay in Canada" and that "many people were expressing view", before and after the demonstration. However, a large number of the protesters wore neo-Nazi paraphernalia.