Report back about the public assembly that was held in Montreal to highlight upcoming mobilization and activities this fall.

Report Back from CLAC Public Assembly August 16th:

Last Thursday, August 17th CLAC (the anti-capitalist convergence) held a public assembly to highlight some different points of focus for activism this fall. The event was well attended, all different sorts crowded into 1710 Beaudry. Six specific topics were highlighted at the assembly: poverty & gentrification, police brutality, the scapgoating of immigrants and refugees, the IMF & World Bank, WTO and OCAP. Each of these subjects were addressed with a presentation, highlighting different ideas, efforts and ways in which people could plug in.

It was clear that there were many ideas surrounding different mobilizations for the fall and that activist are excited for these upcoming actions. After the mass mobilization of Quebec city, the recent Squat victory and our own daily struggles, CLAC organized this public assembly as an opportunity for activists to share ideas and to reinforce and organize their collective resistance.

The recent victory won at Overdal for Montreal activists, highlighted a growing need to address and organize around issues of gentrification and homelessness here in the city. Although a victory was won at Overdale there are still countless problems present with the housing situation here in Montreal. This was made clear by a member of CLAC who spoke about the need to bring the energies of mass mobilizations like Quebec City to local initiatives like the Squat. It was made clear that this could be a strong focus point for activism this fall. With comite de sans emploi engagin in ongoing work in poor and homeless communities and their commitment to take on these issues directly this issue will not subside. Rapid Action is planning a campaign with poor and homeless communities to organize collective actions against landlords and gentrification. With the ongoing housing crisis in Montreal, it is clear that many problems remain within our city and issues of gentrification and homeless must not be taken lightly.
( contact comite sans-emploi, 514.596.7094 )

Across the border in Ontario our friends the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty are mobilizing for a massive campaign against the Harris government this fall. The kick-off action is this October 16th with a mass demonstration in the financial district of Toronto. The Ontario Common Front is mobilizing throughout the province of Ontario against the neo-liberal policies of the Harris government. This campaign to defeat Harris will extend past the day of action on the 16th until the Harris government is brought to it’s feet. Montreal activists will be organizing buses to Ontario for the 16th, to show our solidarity for the people of Ontario.
the next Montreal OCAP solidarity meeting is thursday august 23 at 8pm at the new squat (3100 rachel)
( for more information visit www.ocap.ca: here in Montreal you can call to reserve your place on the buses for Oct. 16th @ 848.7585)

Police Brutality is a constant problem throughout Montreal and the world something which finds many activists it’s subject. The Collective Opposed to Police Brutality is a Montreal based organization dedicated to fighting police corruption and highlighting cases of police injustice. This fall COBP will be continuing their work to combat police & state repression with up to date reports of police injustice and public inquiries into police action.
( visit http://.tao.ca/~cobp/index.html or call (514) 859-9065 for more information )

Activists are gearing up for the World Bank & IMF meeting in Washington D.C this fall from the 28th of September to the 1st of October. As many as 50 000 activist are expected from around to world to confront the meetings. Here in Montreal the Canadian Federation of Students will be organizing buses to Washington for the demonstrations.

( vist www.abolishthebank.org for more info and for bus information call the Canadian Federation of Students @ 931.2377 )

Mass demonstration stopped the WTO meetings in Seattle, November of 99 setting a new standard for demonstrations around the world. The WTO will be meeting again this November 9th, however these meeting will be taking place in Qatar a country in which freedom of speech and assembly are almost entirely non-existent. This choice of location sends a message from the WTO about the democratic and transparent nature of their organization.

Despite the meetings being in Qatar an international day of action has been called against the WTO for N9. Many initiatives have been taken across the globe to protest; the Direct Action Network of NYC is mobilizing for a N9 Wall Street demonstration, the Common Front on the WTO is organizing a series of cross country caravans to inform and mobilize people about what the WTO is really about.

Here in Montreal we have the opportunity to participate in this international day of action by mobilizing right here in own city, in our own communities. At the Public Assembly people seemed very excited about this possibility and motioned toward having a concrete local action for N9.

( visit www.wtoaction.org for more info and more information about Montreal mobilization call 514.844.3398 )

It was clear that activism in Montreal is alive and well at 1710 Beudry this last Thursday, Many long-standing commitments to mobilize against the tides of capitalism were reconfirmed.