Reports and video footage of violent demonstration and criminality by ultra-nationalist and racist organisations in Russia this week are forming an interesting juxtaposition to recent political protests in the West. If one is interested in what ‘violent thuggery’ actually looks like, witness this week’s outburst of unrest in Moscow: Rampaging
Continue readingTag: protest
World Headlines Review: Riots and Disparity: Rome, London and Toronto
International headlines in the last two weeks have reported a massive amount of social unrest and unsettling news across the developed world, including riots and economic data which on the surface may appear discordant and unrelated, but are united as part of larger political and economic trends. Fees Protest, by
Continue readingSketchy Thoughts: Prisoners on Strike in Georgia! Show Support!
A very important message, sent from friends at defenstrator:
Now in it’s 2nd day with rumors the strikes have spread to up to ten prisons. Prison officials are reported to be threatening disproportionate levels of repression. Please show support!!
F…
Continue readingSketchy Thoughts: Prisoner being TORTURED at SCI Coal Township: Urgent Solidarity Needed!
The following is an Action Alert from the HRC-FedUp! Emergency Response Network, about prisoner-advocate Andre Jacobs who is being tortured in retaliation for his speaking up in defense of a fellow prisoner who was being deprived food.
Take action …
Continue readingSketchy Thoughts: Call for Emergency Demonstrations Monday Against FBI
A call for action at Federal Buildings and FBI Offices.
We denounce the Federal Bureau of Investigation harassment of anti-war and solidarity activists. The FBI raided seven houses and an office in Chicago and Minneapolis on Friday, September 24, 2010…
Continue readingRunesmith's Canadian Content: The Big Picture
This may be the sanest explanation I’ve read so far for why Black Bloc tactics are not just wrong, but ultimately counter-productive. From Thomas Walcom:
Two things stand out from the street riots and subsequent police actions that swept downtown Toro…
Continue readingRunesmith's Canadian Content: Breach of Peace, Breach of Trust – now with Bonus Lies!
I’ve been trying to write a post on the G20 protests for days now, but events keep overtaking me. And now there is only one overriding issue:
Chief Bill Blair has lied to the people of Toronto, and he must apologize or resign.
As others have pointe…
Continue readingRunesmith's Canadian Content: Reaching for my Tinfoil Hat
I’ve been awfully sceptical of these claims that it was police provocateurs who started the vandalism and the car burning this weekend. Yeah, yeah, the boots – well, most of my anarchist friends love their heavy black boots too. And it’s not like we …
Continue readingRunesmith's Canadian Content: Steve Paikin’s Twitter Feed
Steve Paikin of TVO’s ‘The Agenda’ tweeted his experiences this evening (@spaikin). Just one more disturbing story to add to the list:
i saw police brutality tonight. it was unnecessary. they asked me to leave the site or they would arrest me. i told…
Continue readingRunesmith's Canadian Content: The Curious Case of Byron Sonne
Even before the G20 security blitz began, there was the “gardening incident”.
At the height of outrage over the fake lake and the escalating security costs, word comes down of a potential home-grown Canadian terrorist. Armed with deadly fertilizer, c…
Continue readingPop The Stack: Time to Come Together Around Democratic Reform
Today I’m going to tell you my vision for creating a national discussion about Democratic Reform. If you’re a regular reader of PopTheStack you know that one of the things I’m really passionate about is fixing our democracy in Canada. There are lots of things wrong with the way that voices of Canadians are heard, […]
Continue readingRunesmith's Canadian Content: My Ann Coulter Theory – <i>updated</i>
I watched Ann Coulter on Power Play today, or at least as much as I could stand. It felt rather like being choked by a giant blonde hairball, which makes me wonder why on earth anyone would pay good money to listen to her.More importantly, why would a…
Continue readingPop The Stack: Canada 2.0 – The Satirical Masses
You gotta love Canada. We are a humble people but we are also a deeply funny and self-effacing people. The latest political trend involves a deep fried ring of onion, a Prime Minister and the spicy dipping sauce of Facebook protest. The aforementioned onion ring, a very tasty looking one I must say, recently became […]
Continue readingPop The Stack: A Great Democracy Deserves a Great Protest
In response to this article about the latest degradation of American democracy. One senator is essentially holding up all nominations for government posts in order to get special funds, called earmakrs, for his state. I agree that if the Democrats capitulate and negotiate again like they did with Lieberman they have essentially ceded their majority […]
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