Headlines for 26 May 2010

Blockade in Grassy Narrows

Last Tuesday afternoon, demonstrators concerned with the policing of their community blockaded the road to Asubpeeschoseewagong (Grassy Narrows) First Nation. Grassy Narrows residents say that some calls to the Treaty Three police are never responded to, and that when police do respond, intimidation and mistreatment can occur.  It can take up to half a day for the police to respond to an emergency call.

While some community members are interested in increased service, or seeing a police unit stationed in Grassy Narrows, Chrissy Swain, who was one of the leaders of the community's logging blockade that began in 2002, is proposing a volunteer force of peacekeepers to respond to safety concerns.  She says that Treaty Three doesn’t enforce traditional laws or community bylaws.

The bigger picture is I want to see our own people taking care of our own people as peacekeepers so we can enforce our own laws."

Olympic village reclaimed by housing activists

Housing activists and their supporters reclaimed the Olympic Athlete's Village in an action on the afternoon of Saturday, May 15. The False Promises at False Creek rally disrupted the open house event, and made the demands of poor and homeless people in Vancouver impossible for investors to ignore.

In 2006,Vancouver's City Council promised that 66% of the Olympic Village would be turned into social housing.  Currently, less than 15% of the space is social housing, and activists point out many of these rents are not affordable for those on social assistance.

Pride Toronto censors Queers Against Israeli Apartheid

Pride Toronto has promised Toronto's City Council that it will censor anti-Israel groups at Pride events this year. The group Queers Against Israeli Apartheid is being specifically targetted, and the Pride Committee told the city that it will weed out their messaging during the application phase or on the day of the parade.

Toronto City Hall is one of Pride’s main funders, and the City has claimed that criticisms of the Israeli government amount to hate and discrimination.

In a statement on their website, Queers Against Israeli Apartheid write that

By caving to their demands, Pride Toronto has not only silenced the voices of queer Palestinians and human rights activists —they have set a dangerous precedent for free expression in our community.

Earlier this year, Pride Toronto rescinded its censorship policy after community outrcy and a protest.  The Board of Directors issued a statement that read "the proposed plan for an Ethics Committee to review and approve all messaging prior to the Parade, Dyke and Trans March has been withdrawn."