Joining in Solidarity, Differing in Ideology

Jesse Rosenfeld, 20.08.2007 00:49

Chants of “George Bush, Terrorist!” and “Support our troops, bring them home,” boomed through the megaphones of protest marshals while many signs depicted the Canadian Maple Leaf being dominated by the US flag. However, many delegations at the march focused on a need for international solidarity and challenged the role of Canadian nationalism in war and economic exploitation.

Condemning the war in Afghanistan and denouncing the Security Prosperity Partnership as anti-democratic, over 3,000 people demonstrated in Ottawa at a march called by the Council of Canadians and a coalition of anti-war groups yesterday.

Resisting the proposed partnership that will increase capital flow across boarders while further constricting peoples ability to migrate, was the march’s central theme. However, the message was eclipsed by signs and slogans focused on opposition to George Bush and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Chants of “George Bush, Terrorist!” and “Support our troops, bring them home,” boomed through the megaphones of protest marshals while many signs depicted the Canadian Maple Leaf being dominated by the US flag. However, many delegations at the march focused on a need for international solidarity and challenged the role of Canadian nationalism in war and economic exploitation.

“SPP is anti-poor, PGA is at their door,” chanted protesters from the Peoples Global Action contingent, contending partnerships that violate human rights will be met with a grassroots resistance that transcends boarders.

“I don’t believe that if some sections of the Canadian ruling class are given power and our foreign policy and domestic policy distances itself from the United States, that we’re going to see a great change,” said Kabir Joshi-Vijayan, a grade-eight community activist and organizer with Haiti Action Toronto.

“We have to understand that the SPP benefits the ruling classes of Mexico, the US and Canada, and it’s the working people of Canada, Mexico and the US who are loosing. For us to say this is an infringement on the Canadian sovereignty and side with sections of the Canadian ruling class is really wrong. They are the enemies, and we should be siding with the working people of the US and Mexico,” he added.

At the Council of Canadians teach-in at The University Ottawa that followed the march, Joshi-Vijayan demanded the panel of Canadian Parliamentary opposition parties and the Greens justify their statements that the SPP violates Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic. He argued it’s indigenous peoples Arctic sovereignty that is further violated by the partnership.

Although saying that Joshi-Vijayan’s position was accurate, Ann Wright, former US Army colonel and diplomat turned anti-war activist, contends that using patriotism is more effective to pressure and convince governments to abandon the SPP.

“I would urge all Canadian and all Mexican citizens to put pressure on their governments to not just take everything that George [Bush] says, and go along with it,” said Wright. “George is looking out for the corporate financial interests of groups in the United States, he’s definitely not looking out for the common person in the United States, and for sure not the Canadian and Mexican citizens.”

Wright was supposed to be at yesterday’s demonstration and part of the teach-in panel, but was detained at the Canadian boarder for three hours because of past arrests tied to non-violent protests in the US against the Iraq war. She has been forced to sign conditions stating she will not leave the Ottawa area, or go to today’s demonstrations against the SPP in Montebello. She said her detention was a example of the emerging SPP process’ clampdown on people’s boarder mobility.

Despite the ongoing debate between nationalist and internationalist opposition to the SPP, demonstrators expressed the need for international solidarity against the partnership.

“We need to raise our voices, no matter what your nationality is. If you’re against the imperialistic government in the United Sates, you need to unite no matter what your nationality,” said Johnann Juarez from No One is Illegal, Toronto, and the Mexican Communist party.

e-mail:: jesse.rissin.rosenfeld[at]gmail.com

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