Militant Rally and March in Calgary Express People's Defiant Opposition to G7's Anti-People Agenda
Two
thousand people of all ages and walks of life took part in a militant
rally and march in Calgary on June 15 to affirm their opposition to the
G7 Summit taking place in Kananaskis from June 15 to 17. People took a
stand on many fronts, among others climate justice, saving the eastern
slopes of the Rockies from foreign coal interests, defending migrant
rights, and demanding an end to the debt crisis.
The
rally and march was a huge success because the people defied the
atmosphere of fear and terror that the state, its police forces and
media tried to create to keep them from expressing their opposition to
the anti-human, anti-national and warmongering agenda of the G7.
There were two rallies at Calgary City Hall, starting with a "Hands Off Our Water" rally, that preceded the one aimed at the G7 in particular. Indigenous speakers and other water protectors spoke out against the narrow private aims of the G7 and the fossil fuel, mining, and other extraction industries which feed the G7 warmongers and are destroying the planet and the very future of humanity. Indigenous speakers, most from Alberta, took a firm stand in joining with other struggles around the world to affirm the right to be of all peoples to peace, justice and a bright future for all. They noted that many Indigenous nations in Canada and around the world do not have access to safe drinking water, which is essential for life. A Palestinian youth noted that the Zionist occupiers of Palestine have contaminated water or restricted access to water for the Palestinians as a tool of an ongoing 77-year genocide. The rallies underscored the unity of the peoples of the world standing as one to protect the human and social environment against the G7 leaders and their narrow private, self-serving agendas.
Water Rally
at Calgary city hall
Following the rallies at Calgary City Hall, the International League of Peoples' Struggle led a march that highlighted the crimes committed by the G7 countries, led by the U.S., around the world, including their active role in supporting the U.S./Israeli genocide against the Palestinian people. It was also pointed out that environmental damage caused through imperialist wars has displaced tens of millions of people around the world. Protesters chanted various slogans such as U.S. Imperialists, Number One Terrorist! Genocide 7 Not Welcome in Canada! War Criminals Out of Canada! and many slogans that supported the Palestinian people.
The march stopped first at the U.S. Consulate where a speaker from Anakbayan, a patriotic Filipino youth organization, denounced the crimes that the U.S. has perpetrated including the Israeli genocide against the Palestinians, increasing war exercises in the Asia Pacific against China and the attacks against Indigenous Peoples to steal their resources, from the Philippines to Canada.
The march then continued to the federal building where people chanted Carney, Carney You Can't Hide, We Charge You with Genocide! The marchers demanded that Canada immediately impose an arms embargo against Israel and once again chanted slogans in support of the Palestinian people.
The participants defiantly marched past line after line of riot police flanking the roads of downtown Calgary, stopping to watch a popular theatre performance which highlighted how institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have been used for decades as instruments of the U.S. and other rich nations of the G7. They impoverish the countries and peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America through onerous "development loans" which have resulted in many countries spending more than half of their GDP in interest payments. The demand was made to cancel endless debt servicing that enslaves and prevents so many countries from meeting the needs of their people.
With red flags held high and a banner declaring G7
Assassins Not Welcome in Canada! a
contingent from CPC(M-L) participated in the rally and march and
distributed the Party's statement: "Condemn Israel's Attack on
Iran! G7 Assassins Not Welcome in Canada. Condemn Israel's
Assault On Iran, Its Nuclear Facilities and Assassinations.
Demand Canada Condemn This Aggression," and also distributed
recent issues of TML In The News about the G7.
Participants were eager to take both and many people took photos
of the Party's banner and thanked the Party contingent for its
bold stand.
The people's march ended back at City Hall where the organizers thanked all the participants and affirmed their pledge to continue political organizing to end the rule of the G7 and their agenda.
This article was published in
Volume 55 Number 6 - June 2025
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2025/Articles/M550064.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca