Canadian Tire Fire #66: Solidarity Demonstrations and Blockades Spread, Encampment Defense

In this issue, we bring you a round up of a huge number of actions and demonstrations in solidarity with Palestine that have happened over the last month. Across the country, people have held massive protests, blocked infrastructure, pressured politicians, and disrupted the business of complicit companies. We’ve also got an update on encampment defense and ongoing evictions as winter approaches in Vancouver and Toronto.

Lastly, a quick land defense legal update: This month two Indigenous land defenders involved in the struggle against Coastal Gaslink on Wet’suwet’en territories went to trial in BC courts. Dakelh land defender Sabina Dennis was one of eight people facing criminal contempt charges for an injunction breach. On November 29th, she was found not guilty of her charges. Likhts’amisyu chief Dinï ze’ Dsta’hyl also began trial this month, and his case is expected to wrap up soon. More land defenders will be going to trial in December 2023 and January 2024, for charges tied to the raid of Coyote Camp in November 2021. Visit Yintah Access for updates.

Now on to our main stories!

Solidarity with Palestine

As the death toll from Israel’s siege on Gaza climbs, and the genocidal goals of the Israeli government are made more and more explicit, communities across Canada used a wide range of tactics to apply pressure to the Canadian government, banks, and other complicit companies.

Blocking Infrastructure

In Montreal, around 100 people blockaded the Jacques Cartier bridge during morning rush hour for at least two hours, causing major traffic disruptions.

Also in Montreal, around 30 people blockaded CN rail tracks. Riot police ended the action in after just under two hours.

CN was also targeted in Winnipeg, where folks blocked the rails for about 5 hours.

In Regina, a train blockade happened as well, with 5 people arrested.

The actions drew attention to the specifically colonial nature of Israel’s attacks on Gaza, connecting the struggle for the freedom of Palestinians to anti-colonial solidarity here. Besides the well-known pressure tactic of blocking flows of capital throughout Canada, CN also has a partnership with ZIM, Israel’s largest shipping company.

Targeting Weapons Manufacturers

Over the course of two days on November 9th and 10th, six offices and manufacturing plants connected to weapons manufacturing and arms trade with Israel were shut down.

In Montreal, Toronto, and Hamilton, three offices and manufacturing plants of L3 Harris were shut down. A report back from the Hamilton action states:

L3Harris profits from, and is directly implicated, in the attacks on Palestine as well as the repression of those involved in Indigenous, anti-colonial, and anti-imperialist struggles. L3Harris technology is contracted widely by intelligence, military, and police forces throughout Turtle Island, and globally. This includes equipping the Israeli Air Force – which has been deployed for heavy assaults on Gaza – and also manufacturing the controversial Stingray surveillance devices used to repress and surveil movements across Turtle Island.

On the same day, folks in Ottawa blockaded the entrance to Lockheed Martin, the world’s largest arms dealer and one of the top global suppliers of weapons to Israel.

In Halifax, a crew blocked access to GeoSpectrum, a subsidiary of Elbit Systems, an Israel-based weapons manufacturer.

In Vancouver, protesters occupied the offices of Israel shipping company ZIM.

Later in the month, folks in Montreal shut down vehicle access to the offices of Lockheed Martin, which supplies weapons to Israel, and Bombardier, who had a contract to supply trains to Israel Railways until a couple years ago.

Pressuring MPs

Justin Trudeau and the Liberal party faced unrelenting pressure to call for a ceasefire. On a trip to Vancouver, Trudeau could not avoid being confronted at multiple dining establishments in one day.

At least two Liberal party fundraisers were disrupted: one in Ottawa, and one in Halifax.

MPs’ offices were the subject of protests throughout the month, and one morning protesters picketed the MP’s entrance to the House of Commons.

Pressuring Banks

Banks were also a subject of protest this month, with Scotiabank in particular facing criticism for their investments with Israel weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems.

Protests were held in Montreal and Toronto and at the high-profile Scotiabank-sponsored Giller literary awards, three protesters snuck in and disrupted the ceremony.

Mass Protests

Mass protests also continued throughout the month.

In Toronto, protesters occupied Union Station, though this did not lead to any transit disruptions. A massive march visited the Parliament building in Ottawa on November 25th, with demonstrations taking place in several other cities across the country simultaneously.

Repression

As with any social movement that pushes the limits of what is acceptable tactically, and sufficiently disrupts the social peace, repression is an inevitable reality.

One of the most shocking cases of backlash against protests has been the conspiracy charges laid against 11 activists in Toronto, connected to the postering of a Indigo Books storefront. Many of the arrests were made during house raids in the early morning on November 22nd. All of the accused have been released with conditions and are scheduled to appear in court in January 2024.

On November 10, a flagship Indigo store was splashed with red paint and covered with posters. The posters criticized CEO Heather Reisman for her support for the Israeli military, including through a scholarship encouraging foreigners to join the IDF. Mainstream backlash decrying the act as antisemitism was swift.

Since the arrests, many of the accused have been suspended from their jobs. Several solidarity actions have been held at Indigo stores, particularly led by Jewish folks fighting the antisemitism narrative. Following a rally and press conference at the original Indigo on November 30th, the charge of criminal harassment was added to the existing mischief over $5,000 and conspiracy charges for all of the accused.

Other legal repression has taken place as well. At the recent Montreal rail blockade, around 10 people were detained. They were not charged but were told they would receive CN rail tickets. According to police in Vancouver, two people were arrested for taking part in an action where Justin Trudeau was surrounded and accosted for his support of Israel. Three people were arrested for disrupting the Scotiabank GIller Prize ceremony and are facing charges of obstruct, interrupt or interfere with the lawful use, enjoyment or operation of property, as well as the charge of using a forged document. After their arrests, 1500 Canadian writers signed an open letter calling for their charges to be dropped.

Encampment Defense

On November 29th in Vancouver, residents and former residents of two park encampments held a press conference calling for a moratorium on encampment evictions until May 31st, 2024. Vancouver bylaws prevent daytime sheltering, meaning that those living in tents must pack up their belongings every morning to avoid harassment from the City. Just two weeks earlier, the City of Vancouver evicted an encampment in Crab Park, where two residents and a legal observer were arrested.

In Toronto, an encampment defense effort could not prevent the eviction of people living on the grounds of a church in downtown Toronto. With the permission of the church, the encampment had existed for over a year. After a series of fires at the encampment, the City stated their intentions to clear the site. Supporters  showed up early in the morning of November 25 and were present at the site all day. Finally in the evening when the crowd began to wane, the City brought in police and heavy machinery to complete the clearing. Subsequently, the area was fenced off and heavy cement blocks were used to cover the site, and former residents were told they risked arrest if they returned.

As winter approaches and shelter spaces remain scarce, people must be allowed to use any means at their disposal to survive. Evicting encampments, dispersing communities, and stealing belongings from people trying to survive on the streets are a deadly attack on the poor.

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