Actions in Canada
Information pickets were organized in Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton and Calgary, joining with other actions internationally, to oppose NATO's 75th Anniversary Summit July 9-11 in Washington, DC and NATO's war agenda.
The pickets carried on the proud
tradition of Canadians and
Quebeckers of opposing NATO and NORAD and demanding that Canada
be a
force for peace in the world amidst today's conditions. They
expressed
the militant opposition of Canadians and Quebeckers to the aims
of NATO
and its summit to expand military and financial support for the
U.S./NATO proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, to divert
billions of
dollars of public funds from social programs into war
production, and
expand NATO's tentacles into the Indo-Pacific to threaten China
and
Korea. The pickets highlighted the escalating threats that NATO,
under
U.S. dictate, poses to the peoples of the world and demanded
that
Canada get out of NATO and NORAD.
The militant public stand of the participants defied the incessant war propaganda of the Canadian state, including the cartel parties in the Parliament, who dutifully call for strengthening NATO and NORAD and attempt to outlaw discussion of their warmongering aims. Canadians also firmly oppose the actions of the NATO Association of Canada which promotes NATO's aggressive agenda among the youth and exerts pressure to ensure that not a single MP takes a principled stand against NATO.
July 9
Ottawa
In Ottawa on July 9, an information picket was held in front of the Prime Minister's office. It engaged passers-by with the demands to get Canada out of NATO and NORAD, for a peaceful settlement of the U.S./NATO proxy war against Russia in Ukraine and that Canada end its support for Israel's genocide against the Palestinian people.
Toronto
An information picket was held in Toronto the same day at the U.S. Consulate. Following vigorous chanting of slogans -- such as Get Canada Out of NATO! Dismantle NATO! Oppose the NATO Washington Summit! U.S./NATO out of the Middle East! Not a Single Youth for Imperialist War! -- the participants listened to several speakers. On behalf of the Ad-Hoc Committee Against the NATO Washington Summit, Philip Fernandez thanked everyone for their participation and briefly summed up why NATO is so reviled by the peoples of the world. Among the participants were activists from the Latin American and South Asian communities, the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist), Pax Christi, the Canada Philippines Solidarity Organization and the Toronto Forum on Cuba.
Greg Gillis of Pax Christi decried the silence of the Christian churches in the face of the ongoing genocide in Gaza. He pointed out that this silence is not neutral but succours the Zionists and their U.S./NATO funders and enablers. He condemned the Trudeau Liberals for their refusal to represent the aspirations of Canadians who are standing with the Palestinians. He denounced the U.S./NATO proxy war in Ukraine against Russia and called on everyone, particularly church-goers to take a just stand in defence of peace and for an end to Canada's participation in NATO.
A representative of the Canada Philippines Solidarity Organization explained how the U.S. has corralled the Philippines, Korea and Japan to join in to threaten China in the South China Sea, endangering the peoples of the region. He spoke about the opposition of the Filipino people to the U.S. imperialists and their warmongering as well as the campaign by the Marcos Jr. government to target and criminalize the anti-war movement. He also highlighted Canada's aggressive role in the Philippines including its support for the Philippines' military through training, weapons sales, and participation in U.S.-led war exercises in the region. He also spoke of Canada's support for Canada-based mining companies which, together with the Philippines state, forcefully remove Indigenous Peoples from their lands in order to steal the mineral resources. He called for the U.S. and Canada to get out of the Philippines.
Morteza Gorgzadeh of the Toronto Forum on Cuba highlighted Cuba's role today in promoting peace and speaking out against the genocide in Gaza. He reminded everyone of Fidel Castro's leadership in the Second Summit of the Community of Latin America and Caribbean (CELAC) states held in Havana in January 2014 where the heads of state and governments declared Latin America and the Caribbean a Zone for Peace. He also denounced the assistance that the U.S./NATO is providing to Israel to carry out the brutal massacres of civilians in Palestine and denounced Canada's own role and cowardice.
Edmonton
In Edmonton, anti-war activists also held an information picket that day to denounce the NATO Summit, a continuation of anti-war actions in Alberta. These include recent opposition to Canada sponsoring Israeli weapons manufacturers at an armaments fair at Canada Forces Base Suffield in southern Alberta, May 27-June 21. Albertans denounced this fair as a provocation against Albertans and all Canadians who oppose the war and genocide against the Palestinians, and the support of the Canadian government for the perpetrators. The picket expressed the opposition of Albertans to imperialism and war, and the NATO agenda of support for the hegemonic aims of U.S. imperialism around the world.
July 10
Montreal
In Montreal a militant information picket was held on July 11 at the Mont-Royal metro station to denounce the NATO summit and demand that NATO be dismantled. During the action demonstrators chanted Canada, Out of NATO! Dismantle NATO! Not a Single Youth for Imperialist War! Make Quebec and Canada Zones for Peace! Fund Social Programs, Not War! and other slogans which drew broad support from passers-by. People stopped to express their grave concern about the escalating danger of world war and their opposition to Canada's use of funds for weapons and war that could be used for social programs, including housing for those who are homeless and support for people with mental health issues.
Toronto
In Toronto activists picketed the downtown headquarters of the NATO Association of Canada, an organization funded by the Canadian government and private interests which promotes NATO's warmongering agenda in Canada. Chants denouncing the NATO Washington Summit, demanding Canada get out of NATO, that NATO be dismantled and many others echoed for blocks, reaching the upper levels of the office towers in the area. Drivers and pedestrians expressed support for the action; many people took photos and videos.
July 11
Toronto
Two actions took place against the NATO Washington Summit on July 11, the last day of the summit.
In Toronto a picket was held at Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland's constituency office. Freeland is one of the most ardent champions of NATO and its proxy war in Ukraine, and was at one time considered a candidate for the position of NATO Secretary General to succeed Jens Stoltenberg. The picket was spirited, with youth from Parkdale for Palestine, and members of the Latin American, South Asian and Palestinian communities joining in the action along with others who had heard about the pickets on social media. Many people responded to the slogans and the statement of the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist) that was distributed and expressed their support for the action which ended with a pledge to step up efforts to get Canada out of NATO, to work to dismantle NATO and make Canada a zone for peace.
Calgary
In Calgary, anti-war activists held an information picket to oppose the summit and to call on Calgarians and Albertans to take a stand against NATO and to Make Canada a Zone for Peace!
This article was published in
Volume 54
Number 42 - July 22, 2024
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2024/Articles/MS54423.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca