student activism
Ottawa night march sets stage for cross-Canada 'Casseroles'
On the eve of today's cross-Canada actions, a night rally in Ottawa showed solidarity with Quebec students.
Related rabble.ca story:
Solidarity Halifax discusses Quebec student strikes
Date: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 6:00pm
Location
Dalhousie Student Union Building
Halifax, NS
Canada
44° 38' 55.9716" N, 63° 34' 31.1232" W
See map: Google Maps
This event is meant to help generate a discussion in Halifax about the character and context of the events in Quebec and what it means for activists in Halifax.
Following this discussion, there is also a casserole demonstration happening, which will involve a march to Victoria Park whilst banging on pots and pans. Please feel free to bring a pot to bang on.
How the Anglo punditocracy demonizes Quebec's student protests
Anglo Canada is sticking its fingers in its ears and humming a happy song. Many in the English-speaking punditocracy and media (or perhaps mediocracy?) are doing their best to persuade us that student protests in Quebec are nothing of any consequence.
This is getting a little harder to do, now that so many other folks are joining the students. But it is not too late to jump on the bandwagon to ridicule or demonize the protesters. Just follow these simple steps.(These steps can be rearranged and amplified for dramatic effect.)
Step 1: Set the stage with a dismissive tone. Many like to scorn protesters as naïve over-entitled brats. If you really get huffing and puffing, brand students as anti-social radicals. This leads nicely into step 2.
The taming of Jean Charest
Jean Charest was an early critic of the newly majority Harper government for its 'we won, and we get to do what we want' attitude to opposition. Ironically, sadly and, ultimately, stupidly, not much later Charest went ahead and adopted a similar attitude himself when faced with student opposition to his proposed 75 per cent increases to tuition fees (over five years, since pushed up to 82 per cent over seven years).
Toronto rallies in solidarity with Quebec students
Toronto rallies in solidarity with Quebec students and against Bill 78, as part of a day of action marking 100 days of the student strike.
Spread the red square everywhere: Why solidarity with Quebec students is crucial
The Charest government has turned to repression to try to break the largest and longest student strike in Quebec history. Students had already endured heavy-handed policing, including hundreds of arrests and brutal attacks by riot cops on campuses and in the streets.