Jun. 30, 2010 - Issue #767: The Bestest of Edmonton 2010
Vuepoint
Democratic values
"unprecedented, disproportionate and, at times, unconstitutional."
'The radical protest movement will never bring about change." It's just one of the comments uttered on the Internet in the aftermath of the G20 protests in Toronto, but one that follows every major convergence of activists. With hundreds of arrests, thousands on the streets, smashed windows and burnt cars, the scene on the streets of Toronto was not much different than in Vancouver 1997 during the APEC conference, 2001 in Quebec City or maybe 2007 in Montebello. Each time thousands took to the street and were met with by violent confrontations by police. Tear gas, water cannons, riot gear and billy clubs greet activists every time, so why would citizens continue to engage in such a tactic only to be met with violence?
Protesting is a way to have your voice heard. It is empowering. A citizen can stand in the street and march with thousands of fellow citizens engaging on issues they care about. We're taught that voting every four years is the path to voicing our values, but we're never taught what happens in between. Protesting is the visible demand on the people we have voted for to hold to the values their citizens believe in. And, as citizens, activists are guaranteed that right under the Charter—to freely assemble to discuss the issues affecting their lives and to do so without the threat of being arrested, detained or threatened with violence—all of which happened this past weekend in the streets of Toronto. And which the Canadian Civil Liberties Association has deemed "unprecedented, disproportionate and, at times, unconstitutional." But it has not stopped the conversation. In fact, far more people than just the thousands on the streets of Toronto are talking about civil liberties and democracy.
Conversations across Canada, on social forums, in coffee shops and at the dinner table are happening about civil liberties, the right to protest and to have a conversation. The lesson will not be forgotten, because if a few fiery cop cars and smashed windows get in the way of public demonstration, what is our Charter worth? V
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