[Marxism] Toronto Preparation for March 20th

[Ernie & Jess <mackenzie.tate@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

This a report I prepared for the Socialist Project List in Toronto.  I
thought subscribers might find it of interest.
                                                Ernie Tate


A Report On Preparations for the Toronto, March 20th Demo Against the
Occupation of Iraq.

by Ernie Tate

This is a follow up to the report prepared by Peter Graham about the
Stop the War Coalition, which appeared on this List a few weeks ago,
about the preparations for the up-coming March 20th demonstration
against the imperialist occupation of Iraq.  We have been representing
the Socialist Project at all of the  Coalition's meetings.

From thirty to forty odd people have been attending the meetings
regularly, representing a broad spectrum of peace, ethnic and political
groups. Chaired by Bob Ages of the Council of Canadians, they are well
organized and very democratic.  Everyone who wishes, gets a chance to
participate in the discussions and people are respectful of each other.
Yesterday evening's gathering was the final one before the demo.

There is every hope that the coming demonstration will be large -- but
how large is anyone's guess. Everyone recognizes that the anti-war mood
in the city has subsided somewhat over the past year. The organizers,
however, are working flat-out to make the demonstration a success.  So
far, tens of thousands of leaflets have been distributed at subway
stations in the mornings and hundreds of posters have been have been put
up around the city.  (Separately, I'll forward to the List the schedule
for the times of distributions at subway stations.) Buttons ($2.00 each)
are almost sold out and 2000 more are on order.

Buses are coming in:

Several bus-loads of people are coming in from Hamilton and outlying
regions, and it appears at this stage that there will be good
representation from the immigrant communities.  Several contingents from
the Steelworkers will be on the demo. Several City Councilors have
stated that they will on the march, among them Giambone, Pantalone,
Davis and Fletcher.

The Canadian Peace Alliance reported to last night's meeting that there
is a very good response from across the country to the call for
anti-occupation activities.  There will be actions in 55 communities on
March 20th -- some large, some small -- in such place as Calgary,
Edmonton, Halifax, Winnipeg, Lethbridge, Penticton, Whitehorse, and
Medicine Hat. The web-site for the Coalition is receiving 900 hits a
day; a month or so ago, it was getting 90.

The route of the demo:

The Toronto demo. will gather at City Hall at 1.00pm.  The route will be
up Yonge Street to College, along College to University, down past the
American consulate and back to Nathan Philips square. The speaker's list
is in the process of being finalized, but the chair will be Susan Sprott
of CAW and among the speakers confirmed so far are Peggy Nash, Olivia
Chow, and Carolyn Parrish.  There will be about eight speakers in total,
with some speaking before the demo and some speaking after.  Three
groups of musicians will be performing.

Help needed:

This coming week-end, eight teams of people will be fanning out across
the city carrying out a mass leafleting campaign. The Coalition is
appealing to supporters to assist with this activity.  An image of the
leaflet is appearing on the NDP's Federal and Provincial web-sites, and
the web-site of the CUPE and other unions and organizations.
Distribution of leaflets is taking place at most mosques in the Toronto
area.  Leaflets are available from the Canadian Peace Alliance (Trinity
St.Paul's Community Centre, 427 Bloor West, at the rear, on the second
floor) where they can be picked up outside the door of the office.

Help is also needed for marshaling on the day of the demo and and in
assisting with the collection of donations, "bucketing".  Volunteers for
this activity are asked to show up at Nathan Philip's Square at 12.00
noon on the day of the demo.

The next and most important working session for activists is a gathering
for the making of posters, banners, etc.  It will be on Monday, March
15th.,5:00p.m. at the GSU at 16 Bancroft St.,(near Sylvester). Everyone
will be welcome!

The next meeting of the Coalition will be March 22nd, 7.30pm., Second
Floor, Metro Hall.






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