Events Archives - Occupy Toronto

Emergency Toronto Casserole in solidarity with Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois

Saturday, November 3, 12pm Dufferin Grove Park, Toronto (Dufferin St, between Bloor and College) The former spokesperson for CLASSE, the main student union responsible for the Quebec student strike was found guilty of contempt of court on November 1st. He could face up to a year in prison and a $5,000 fine. The judge ruled that Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois incited protesters to disobey the ban on picket lines when he stated in a Radio-Canada interview: “If students need to form picket lines to ensure that their strike votes are respected, we think that’s completely legitimate.” We agree! Most of the student movement agreed! That’s how they won! The court ruling is unjust. It is a political attack on the student movement as a whole and an attempt to criminalize protests. It sets a dangerous precedent for free speech and dissent. We must be vocal in opposing it. Another 3000 people are fighting charges from the strike as well. Drop all charges! Solidarity with Gabriel and the students of Quebec! Please join us in the park with pots and pans More info: http://montreal.mediacoop.ca/story/ex-student-spokesperson-nadeau-dubois-found-guilty/14042 To make a donation towards legal costs: http://appelatous.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/164380417036919...

Hemispheric Resistance to Canadian Mining

Day of action organizers speak out about repression, connections, solidarity by Sandra Cuffe On August 1, actions will be taking place across the western hemisphere, including in Canada, Colombia, the United States and El Salvador, to denounce human rights and environmental abuses carried our by Canadian mining and other extractive industries. VANCOUVER—From Canada to Argentina, preparations are well underway for the Continental Day of Action Against Canadian Mega Resource Extraction on August 1. Dozens of organizations have signed a call for the day of protest in solidarity with communities impacted by Canadian extractive industries. The event is meant to highlight the dominance of the Canadian mining industry worldwide. Their demands range from divestment to putting people before profit. But some activists in North America argue that the serious repression accompanying Canadian mining around the world requires going further than those initial demands. They say that acknowledgment, a sense of urgency and a deeper strategic analysis for concrete local action are also needed. Communities and organizers resisting extractive industry projects in Latin America continue to face displacement, harassment, threats, and death, often dismissed as part of unrelated violence and conflicts. Decentralized actions will be taking place throughout the western hemisphere on Wednesday, including a national day of mobilization in regions of mining conflict in Colombia, a memorial in Vancouver to remember those who have lost their lives opposing mining projects and a rally outside the Canadian Embassy in San Salvador. Full article: http://www.dominionpaper.ca/articles/4560 In Toronto: Aug. 1, Noon to 2 P.M., Queen’s Park...

Shelf Life Superhero Action Figures face coup d’état and Occupy problems in Season 3

Occupy Toronto 04 July 2012 by Michael Holloway The Shelf Life writers and cast tackle the end of the Republic on the Shelf, and later – an old charge from the right, that most activists are just out to get laid is examined as Hero Man joins Occupy in ”Occupy This Space”. Very interesting subject line at any rate. The writing in Year 1 was was the best so far, I think. As an activist in Occupy, what do you think? Embedded below are the 2 episodes in the Occupy story arch so far: Season 3, Episode 1 – “Sic Semper Tyrannosaur” Season 3, Episode 3 – “Occupy This Space” The group is up to episode 4 – in their third season. In year 1 and 2 they released 10 episodes. Looking forward to see if this story arch continues. Season 3 Titles SHELF LIFE – Season 3, Episode 1 – “Sic Semper Tyrannosaur” (2:44) SHELF LIFE – Season 3, Episode 2 – “Magic: The Blathering” (2:43) SHELF LIFE – Season 3, Episode 3 – “Occupy This Space” (2:12) SHELF LIFE – Season 3, Episode 4 – “Tiny Dancer” (3:40) *** SHELF LIFE the Series on Youtube – Season 3 playlist: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0F09D016C83BB197&feature=plcp SHELF LIFE the Series Web: http://www.shelflifeseries.com/ mh...

Anti-austerity Casseroles spreading to Toronto neighbourhoods

Occupy Toronto 15 June 2012 by Michael Holloway Leslieville is an East end Toronto neighbourhood that was formerly a small village on the outskirts of Old Toronto. It is centred by Leslie Grove Park at Jones Avenue and Queen Street East – two blocks West of Leslie Street. Leslie Grove Park is the site of the former tree nurseries of Scottish horticulturalist entrepreneur, and village founder, George Leslie. ”Leslieville Pots and Pans: Solidarity With Quebec“ casseroles, started small on May 30th (30 people) and it has held it own over the weeks. Each week about 30 people participate (a core of about 20 plus about 10 ‘random’ (as the kids say) casserolers present each time). On week II (Wednesday, June 6th) the group ventured away from the Park and onto the neighbourhood streets. Week III (J13) this increasingly united and organized group handed out postcard-sized info fliers and about 100 Red Patches with safety pins to neighbours sitting on their front porches, or to people out for evening strolls. The casseroles walks have received a very warm response from almost everyone in the neighbourhood – (two people who live adjacent to the park complained about noise this week – and in a meeting afterwards we decided to spend much less time casseroling right on that corner – more walking casseroles – less rallying). Leslieville Pots and Pans – J13 (via classrageca) As posted earlier here in OccupyToronto (http://occupyto.org/2012/06/casseroles-night-in-toronto/), Casseroles evening walks are taking on the same neighbourhood quality that emerged spontaniously in Montreal’s neighbourhoods after the National Assembly of Quebec passed Bill 78 – the anti-civil-liberties law – on May 18th, 2012. Other neighbourhoods have started organizing on a hyper-local level. The Parkdale Feeder march to Dufferin Grove Casseroles – aka: “manif casserole toronto” – was amoungst the innovator events that is helping to spread this anti-repression, anti-austerity, progressive-economic-policy-movement into Toronto’s neighbourhoods — mirroring the Spanish Indignados tactics from spring 2011. The “manif casserole toronto” itself was an outcome of an OccupyToronto casseroles rally at Dundas Square on Friday May 25th 2012 [edit- 06/15/12] (OccupyToronto Market Exchange – posted May 25,2012 – http://www.facebook.com/OccupyToronto/posts/363075573755575?comment_id=3485563&offset=0&total_comments=6) .. after which participants decided to take the protest out of the core, and into the neighbourhoods. Toronto ‘casseroles’ in solidarity with Quebec – Pots & Pans protest (RAW) – May 30, 2012 (via Sophie Tread – who cycles while recording this – sweet.) Also one of the first neighbourhoods to organize was the “Harbord and Huron Poets“, which the next week became perhaps the best Event title yet, “Annex Casseroles II: Percussion With Repercussions” – which like Parkdale Feeder was a local neighbourhood gathering that fed into the ”manif casserole toronto“, the Dufferin Grove neighbourhood Casseroles gathering. Since the first week more neighbourhoods have joined the movement – here’s a list I put together as part of my Map Admin duties at Casseroles Night’s in Canada (#CNIC): Manif Casseroles Toronto – Dufferin Grove Parkhttps://www.facebook.com/events/391104920936260/ Annex Casseroles II: Percussion With Repercussions http://www.facebook.com/events/246342602138531/ Casserole Night in Christie Pits – for Kids & Adults http://www.facebook.com/events/361611753892660/ Leslieville Pots and Pans http://www.facebook.com/events/222955611155104/ Toronto East Downtown http://www.facebook.com/events/260307904077087/ Seaton Village http://www.facebook.com/events/425457310820641/ Casseroles Night at Withrow Park https://www.facebook.com/events/473497809334193/ Toronto Labor Lyceum http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbYvJ92f0fE Check out the Casseroles Night’s in Canada Global Casseroles Map – (Toronto, Ontario, Canada – ALL open) – http://goo.gl/maps/ChU1 Next Friday, June 22, 2012 Quebec is organizing a Grand Manifestation – beginning at 2pm in front of the National Assembly of Quebec, Quebec City – https://www.facebook.com/events/228211827281364/. For those who cannot get to Quebec City, a Montreal event is also planned – http://www.facebook.com/events/100800863395179/ Canada-wide support rallies are being organized, there is something happening here in Toronto but as I publish this, I can’t find a link. Found it! Or one anyway – Courtesy of Peaceworks Canada who is postering around the casseroles movement on Facebook – ”Masquerade Solidarité: Ontario Students United Against Tuition Fees!” – via Ontario Students’ Mobilization Coalition (OSMC) Poster from left to right: Masquerade Solidarité (Toronto), Manifestation nationale le 22 juin à Québec(Quebec City), Global Resistance 06.24(Global). After a handfull of cities joined June 6th, today I note that the Casseroles Movement is continuing to expand in Europe and now South America is networking too. The call is out for next weekend: “June 24 : worldwide resistance day in solidarity with the Quebeckers” (poster on the right) – http://www.facebook.com/events/394006377312364/. This Casseroles tactic marks the first time that a global anti-austerity movement tactic has traveled back across the Atlantic to Europe since the “Indignados” movement migrated West to North America – a movement that became known as #OccupyWallStreet. 🙂 mh...

History of May Day, and “The Corporate Tax Dodgers” #OWS musical protest theatre

Occupy Toronto 27 April 2012 by Michael Holloway “The Tax Dodgers” are a musical and political street theatre group made up of Occupy Wall Street members – the non-violent, civil disobedience protest movement. They produced and preform this unique version of “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” – titled “Take Me Out to the Tax Game”. Lyrics Take me out to the tax game. Bail me out with the banks. Buy me a bonus and tax rebates. Never pay nuthin’ not fed’ral or state. So it’s shoot, shoot, shoot for the loopholes. It’s law, so you can’t complain. For its one, two, three-trillion you’re out, Since we rigged the game! Take me out to the tax game. Flip the bird to the crowd. Losers pay taxes, we take rebates. ‘cuz we make the rules for the corporate state. And it’s wham, bam, slam through the loopholes. We always win, what a game! We’re the one, yes, the one percent, And we have no shame! The video above was edited from a report posted at The Real News Network, April 19 2012, “Spring Revival: Occupy Wall Street Seeks to Rejuvenate Movement“. The edit is the last minute and a half of the original news item –http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3… The Real News Network’s “Occupy” label –http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=846 “Spring Awakening at Central Park” – an ‘Activist Training Weekend’ held on April 14th 2012 in Central Park in Manhattan. The New York, NY area General Assemblies came together for an extrodinary General Assembly to plan towards a day of political theatre, civil disobedience and protest against an economic system rigged in favour of International Business Elites, and for a fair economic deal for the 99%. May Day 2012, or “#M1″ is a call for everyone to take the day off work, all work, even unpaid work (like house work) and come out with your family and make your voice heard – now at any one of over 150 cities across the Canada, Mexico and the United States that are planning #M1 events. The Rallying call is: #OWS – May 1, 2012 – A Global General Strike – No Work — No School — No Housework — No Shopping – #M1 OccupyToronto (#may1to) – http://occupyto.org/2012/04/may-1st-day-of-action-join-us/ Occupy Wall Street (#M1) A City-by-City Link List –http://occupywallst.org/article/may-day/ AdBusters Occupy Blog – http://www.adbusters.org/blogs/adbusters-blog/may-2012-insurrection.html The History of “May Day” – the original Labour Day May 1, “May Day” is the original ‘Labour Day’. Back in the 1880′s the movement for the 8 hour work day and other worker’s rights, was high lighted by a strike in Chicago during 1886/87 – a long strike of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company. The strike was broken when the State used Agent Provocateures to set off a bomb in amongst a crowd of demonstators and police during an out door meeting of strikers – a day after company poice – or “Pinkerton’s” – opened fire on the workers picket line at the plant with live rounds. The events at the out door meeting became known as “The Haymarket Massacre” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haymarket_affair). The device killed seven police officers and at least four demonstrators. Four union organizers, that some believe were just ‘patsies’, were hung by the neck until dead for the crime, on November 11, 1887. The events set back the movement for workers rights for about 10 years, but eventually the ‘Haymarket Affair’ became the catalist that united a nation wide general strike that ensconced bargaining rights through federal legislation that guaranteed the right to collective bargaining for all who chose to join a union – and by osmosis changed working conditions for the better for all people, as working conditions began to parallel those bargained for in the unionized sector. This workers rights movement was one of the key the foundation stones of the economic agreement between labour and owners that later (after the Second World War) lead to what became known as The Affluent Society – also known as the Middle Class – or in our times, the Consumer Driven Economy [more accurately, the Savings driven economy] (see: “The Affluent Society” 1958 – by J.K. Galbraith –http://books.google.ca/books/about/The_affluent_society.html?id=iLtdAAAAIAAJ) Related Video: “OWS Spring Awakening with the Tax Dodgers!” –http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPslGojm7Q4 mh...

Rep. Bobby Rush Kicked Off House Floor for Wearing Hoodie in Support of Trayvon Martin

Occupy Toronto 28 March 2012 by Michael Holloway PBS – “Rep. Rush Kicked Off Floor for Wearing Hoodie in Support of Trayvon Martin” by Linda J. Scott “National protests over the shooting and killing of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin in central Florida last month have swept the nation, and Wednesday, they landed on the House floor. …” Via, Toby Horn at Google+ 9:04 PM 28.03.2012 – https://plus.google.com/u/0/102619949957030382888/posts/JivfkeRY6dZ Originally posted by NPR at Google+ 1:33 PM 28.03.2012 – https://plus.google.com/u/0/106351386231433168228/posts/e55wEHxZqLk March 22, 2012 – Democracy Now! – “New Yorkers Call for Justice at Million Hoodie March for Trayvon Martin“. Via, Democracy Now! – “New Yorkers Call for Justice at Million Hoodie March for Trayvon Martin” – http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2012/3/22/new_yorkers_call_for_justice_in_million_hoodie_march_for_trayvon_martin PBS – ”Rep. Rush Kicked Off Floor for Wearing Hoodie in Support of Trayvon Martin” – by Linda J. Scott – http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/03/bobby-rush-dons-hoodie-on-house-floor-in-support-of-trayvon-martin.html ...