Actions in Canada Against U.S. Dictate and War Preparations
The dignity of the people of Canada and Quebec was upheld through actions held in Ottawa and in cities across the country that opposed U.S. President Joe Biden’s first official visit to Canada on March 23-24.
Visits like the official state visit of U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden to Canada are presented as reinforcing friendship between the two countries. However, the record shows that such visits are always for purposes of imposing further integration of Canada into the U.S. economy and war machine. At a time when the U.S. is falling deeper into crisis at home, it is stepping up brinkmanship and war preparations abroad, and expects Canada to fall in line. However, Canadians and Quebeckers have a proud history of taking stands against imperialist aggression and war, and on this basis held demonstrations in several cities, to unequivocally tell Biden to go home.
Below are pictures of actions on the occasion of Biden’s visit as well as anniversaries of U.S./NATO led wars of aggression in Iraq, Yugoslavia and Libya.
Demonstration in Ottawa, March 23
Youth for Democratic Renewal, members of the Haitian community, activists from the Cuba solidarity movement from Ottawa, Gatineau and Montreal along with CPC(M-L) activists converged outside the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa on March 23 to send a clear message to Biden that he is not welcome in Canada. Members of the Haitian community spoke forcefully and proudly in defence of their homeland and against the insidious plans of the two countries. So too did the friends and supporters of Cuba call on Biden to immediately end the U.S. illegal blockade of Cuba.
Montreal, March 24
In Montreal on March 24, at the call of the organization Solidarité Québec-Haïti, a vigorous rally was held for nearly two hours in front of the U.S. Consulate. Many held Haitian flags and signs that read: Stop Arming the Killers, Biden/Trudeau, Stop the Genocide, Stop Supporting Gangs in Haiti, United States, Core Group: Get Out of Haiti!, Haiti Will Not Die, Long Live the Haitian People’s Struggle for Their Right to Be! and many other slogans that people chanted in unison. Passing cars honked in support.
Alberta, March 24
In Alberta, Calgarians and Edmontonians took their place with those across Canada saying No to Warmongering and Get Canada Out of NATO, with bold and spirited pickets during afternoon rush hour on March 23. Many people walking and driving gave a thumbs up or honked as they passed the picket. Others stopped to engage in discussion, especially on the role of NATO. Calgarians in particular are concerned that on the day Joe Biden arrived in Canada, Alberta’s minister of Jobs and Economy Brian Jean, speaking at a Calgary Chamber of Commerce luncheon, offered up the city as the home to NATO’s new Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) offices in North America.
Anti-War actions took place in Windsor, Toronto and Montreal on March 19 in advance of Biden’s visit to mark the 24th anniversary of NATO’s war on Yugoslavia, the 20th anniversary of the U.S.-led war on Iraq, and the 12th anniversary of NATO’s war on Libya in Lead-up to Biden’s Visit.
Windsor
Toronto
Montreal
