> From: Carl Cuneo <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: 100,000 Plus March in Protest > The Two-Day Hamilton General Strike was a resounding success. > > On Friday, February 23rd, there were about 30,000 marching and > demonstrating; on Saturday, February 24th, there were 100,000 + (police > estimates). On Saturday, buses full of protestors from all over Ontario > were turned away at the entrance to Hamilton (1,300 buses came Saturday). > I have never seen so many buses in all my life. There were columns upon > columns upon columns. They just kept coming, and people just kept pouring > into Bayfront Park, despite the cold wind. > > This was by far the largest demonstration in Hamilton's history, probably > in Ontario's, and possibly Canada's. For the first time in its history, > Jackson Square, a major downtown mall, closed its doors. On Friday, > unionists blocked the city bus terminals, Stoney Creek postal sorting > station, and dozen of other workplaces. City buses did not run Friday, but > ran Saturday. The entire downtown area was blocked off both days. > Businesses that tried to remain open came to a virtual standstill for two > days. > > I marched both days. I have been in a lot of marches over the years, but > nothing even remotely close to Saturday, and perhaps even Friday. > > Provincial Premier Mike Harris and 1,000 Tories at the PC Tory Policy > Convention were barricaded in the Hamilton convention centre protected by > a row of heavy cement blocs (the kind you see around the White House and > U.S. embassies), behind which were several rows of riot police; have pic > of this plus many others. We all marched past there and 100,000 people had > wanted to hold hands surrounding the Convention Centre, but the organizers > and police called this off for fear of an 'incident'. > > It is important to stress, despite Harris' charactrization of this as a > small group of committed unionists, that this movement is a very broad > coalition of unionists, community activists, the elderly, children, > students, teachers, citizens from all walks of life, etc. Even the > McMaster University Faculty and Staff Association marched with their > separate banners. > > It was extremely peaceful; no injuriies. > > The best chant of the days: "The only good Tory is a Supposi-Tory". It > was fun! and uplifting! > > The focus of the anger was/is Harrissment - against the massive cuts to > health care, education, welfare, social services, municipalities, all for > the designed purpose to give a tax break to the rich and corporations, > despite the rhetoric about attacking the budget. Harris has now > plumented to 33% in the polls. > > There was an incredibly good feeling and solidarity felt in the marches. > It is hard to describe and put into words unless you were there. > > OPSEU (Ontario public service workers) is going on strike today, though a > last minute mediation talk was called last night. There was over 60% > support in the strike ratification vote. > > Carl Cuneo > > ___________________________________________________________ > Carl J. Cuneo, Professor, Sociology; [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://www.mcmaster.ca/socscidocs/sochome.htm > http://www.humanities.mcmaster.ca/~misc2/tblca1.htm > http://www.mcmaster.ca/socscidocs/cuneocj.htm > http://gpu1.srv.ualberta.ca:8010/vol001.003/RWPAT.HTM > Ph. (905) 525-9140, x23602; Fax: (905) 522-2642; KTH-608 > McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont, Canada L8S 4M4 > __________________________________________________________ > > >
