It was an historic day around the world. Years from now, you are likely to remember where you were on Friday, September 27, 2019.
Over 7 million people took to the streets for the global climate strikes, “including 12,000 here in my home city of Winnipeg”, said Indigenous political activist David Clayton Muller. “It was the largest climate mobilization ever. We made history today folks.”
In Canada, 800,000+ people joined the climate strikes in at least 85 cities. In Montreal, Indigenous youth led the way as 500,000 people marched to demand bold climate action. It was the largest single climate march in the world.
In Vancouver, 80,000 marched. In Toronto over 30,000 participated (which could have been at least tripled if not for the relative passivity of most union and NDP leaders). If you attended a climate justice action elsewhere, including in Victoria, Vancouver, Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg, Guelph, Waterloo, Hamilton, Niagara Falls, Oshawa, Cobourg, Kingston, Montreal, Ottawa, Saint John, or St. John’s, please send a report.
Socialist Action had a banner day — literally. SA members carried banners that proclaimed “Eco-Socialism or Extinction” in Toronto, and “Eco-socialisme ou Extinction” in Montreal.
In Toronto, socialists chanted “No pipelines. Nationalize Big Oil and Gas. Invest their $trillions in green energy, under workers’ control.”
At the centre of the lawn in front of the Ontario Legislature, the Socialist Action canopy (highly visible from every angle, including drone-mounted cameras flying high above the crowd) and the SA literature display within it was a busy hub of activity. Over 90 people, mostly young workers and students, signed up to learn more about SA, and bought hundreds of dollars in booklets, newspapers and buttons — especially the one marked “Capitalism Fouls Things Up”, “Capitalism is Organized Crime”, “I told you this would happen (Karl Marx)”, “Hands Off Venezuela” and “No platform for Fascists.”
On Friday night over forty attended the opening of a new season of Rebel Films at OISE U of Toronto, heard guest speaker James Sandham of Extinction Rebellion and saw the David Attenborough film “Climate Change — The Facts”.
Today, Saturday at 11 a.m., at King and Church Streets, socialists, anti-fascists and LGBTQI people rally to confront Christian fundamentalist, anti-gay bigots who aim to spew their hatred and march into Toronto’s Gay Village. No pasaran.
The struggle continues!
Photo: JESSE WINTER / STAR METRO