Community and labour against convoy occupations and the hard right in our neighbourhoods

For Immediate Release
Friday, February 18, 2022

(TORONTO) - Opponents of the convoys will rally and march beginning at Toronto City Hall on Sunday, February 20th, at 1 pm, at a gathering organized by Community Solidarity TO, a coalition of progressive Toronto labour, anti-racist and social organizations.

Canadians have been watching in consternation as Ottawa neighbourhoods have been subjected to 3 weeks of huge trucks in their streets spewing toxic diesel fumes and the blaring of deafening air horns. The truckers convoy brought with it bullying, intimidation, harassment, anti-Semitism, misogyny and homophobia.

We are marching to prevent this from happening in the streets and neighbourhoods of Toronto.

“Some workers are vulnerable to the manipulations of hard right leaders and organizations, since they feel they have nothing to lose,” said Andria Babbington, President of the Toronto and York Region Labour Council. “Hundreds of unvaccinated workers, some with decades of seniority, were terminated by employers, with no provision for their future, not even Employment Insurance eligibility.”

“There is widespread anxiety about the pandemic and its social fallout, rising inflation, housing shortages, growing economic inequality, the opioid crisis, climate chaos, a shrinking media and an unresponsive political class.” Said Nigel Barriffe of Urban Alliance for Race relations. “This creates conditions for the spread of misinformation, hate speech, vicious attacks on activists and reporters, and the rise of the alt-right.”

“Young people have spent the past two years trying to study and start their lives in a world wide pandemic.” Said Chloe Tse of Climate Voice. “We are fed up too, but we will refuse to sign onto the kind of bullying protest we are seeing in Ottawa. We want our voices heard-for climate justice, for an end to pandemic profiteering by Big Pharma, and for a future that cares for those most marginalized.”

“Enough’s enough”. Said CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn. “No more hate. No more chaos. No more sleepless nights for, and harassment of, our neighbours, of health care workers, of the front-line heroes who’ve been getting us through this. It’s time to forcefully oppose these currents of white supremacy; offer a vision of the solutions we need, like real affordability, permanent paid sick days, and investments into childcare and healthcare; and organize to make this vision a reality."

The creation of Community SolidarityTO is inspired by Community Solidarity Ottawa, that took to the streets February 13, stopping trucks from reinforcing the Ottawa trucker occupation.

Speakers

  • Andria Babbington, President, Toronto and York region Labour Council

  • Nigel Barriffe, President, Urban Alliance for Race Relations

  • Chloe Tse, Organizer, Climate Voice

  • Dr. Philip Berger, with the Access to Health Care Rally Organizers

  • Additional speaker from SEIU Healthcare

  • Climate Voice is a group of labour, environmental and youth organizations promoting climate justice

  • The Toronto and York Region Labour Council represents over 200,000 members in all economic sectors.

  • The Urban Alliance on Race Relations provides educational programs and research to address racism in the community.

  • CUPE Ontario has over 280,000 members in health care, municipalities, school boards, social services, and universities

For further information, please call:

Susan McMurray
416-882-2247
For updates over the weekend
www.communitysolidarityTO.ca