Submitted by Fraser on
One of the most striking things about Toronto in recent days is how quiet and empty the streets are.
Most Torontonians have fled the city ahead of the G20. With 19,000 police and private security forces having flooded into the city – four times the numbers at September’s G20 in Pittsburgh – and the downtown core locked behind a two meter high four kilometre long chain link fence, it is perhaps no surprise people are running scared. The Police have even indicated that anyone who comes within 5 meters of the fence, could be subject to detainment. Rest assured though, tear gas will be used in an environmentally responsible manner (http://www.g8-g20isu.ca/g20/faq-eng.htm#environment)
Clearly, bringing twenty of the world’s global leaders carries with it significant security concerns that must be taken very seriously.
But the impact of creating “Fortress Toronto” has been to intimidate Torontonians rather than reassure them. Our hotel during the people’s summit – like many of the hotels across the city – is full of private security forces. There are crowds of police on every corner. Sometimes they are the only people standing on any corner. The mainstream media cover unruly protests, but for the most part ignore the workshops and public events that have taken place throughout the week.
This may explain why at this past weekend’s “People’s Summit” turnout was deeply disappointing. If you weren’t an anarchist, why would you be interested in attending? There was a lot to learn and a lot of rich discussion. Many of the presentations informed participants why we are in this mess in the first place. But that was lost on most Torontonians.
And now, the voices of Canadian and international civil society have been silenced further by segregating most civil society groups from the Media Centre into an alternative media centre. Some groups have gotten into the media centre by getting different news outlets to agree to accredit them. But the rest of us will be left in a big room, talking to ourselves, and wondering how big that fake lake is on the other side of the fence between ourselves and the world’s press.
Add to this the defunding of a large number of civil society organizations across the country – KAIROS, Alternatives and most recently the Canadian Council for International Co-operation – and you have more than a coincidence.
Our voices are being silenced. It is mine today. It will be yours tomorrow. Speak out. Or you won’t have a chance to.