On Saturday March 14, 2015, people gathered together in communities across Canada for an emergency Day of Action to stop the government’s “secret police” law Bill C-51.
From Antigonish, Bancroft and Barrie, to Winnipeg, West Kootenays and Yellowknife, Days of Action were organized in over 50 communities across the country.
In Toronto, over 2,000 people gathered on a cold drizzly day. They gathered at Nathan Philips Square, and then marched to the U.S. Embassy and the Toronto CSIS headquarters. For those of you who couldn’t be there, here is a recap of the speeches, music and poetry.
Speakers:
Pauline Shirt – Elder
Vanessa Gray, Young indigenous activist of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation
Suraia Sahar, Anti Racism activists who have been organizing against islamophobia
Riaz Siani Mulji: Anti Racism activists who have been organizing against islamophobia
Maryem Hassan Tollar, Juno Award winning Singer
Peggy Nash, NDP MP
Andrew Cash, NDP MP
Rathika Sitsabaeisan NDP MP
Elizabeth May, Green Party Leader
Marie Claire Walker, Canadian Labour Council
Sid Ryan, Ontario Federation of Labour
Nasim Asgari: Spoken word artist
Judy Rebick, Canadian journalist, political activist and feminist
Apologies to Paul Copeland, Human Rights lawyer who couldn’t be included because of audio technical difficulties.
