The Toronto protests against the G20-summit

The massive protests in Toronto against the G8 and G20 summit went almost unnoticed in Europe, except maybe for some pictures of a burning police car and some quick words on ‘violent demonstrators’ and arrests in some mass media. In reality an impressive program of protests and information was organized by activists, who were countered by massive repression. The turnout was also huge. The activist program started days before the summits (see here) Between June 21 en 24 there were days of resistance around a certain theme (migration and occupation, gender & queer, climate & environment, indigenous struggle) and 25-27 were days of action with the mass demo’s on Saturday 26. For more background information see websites at the bottom of this article.

The size, diversity and militancy of the protests was surprising, from a European perspective. While the ‘globalisation movement’ here in Europe seems to have petered down a lot, it doesn’t look so in the Toronto situation. How can you explain that? (The answers below are from two different activists, one from Montreal and one (underlined) from Toronto)

(continue at www.globalinfo.nl)