Hola Compas,
Nosotros en Costa Rica, justo el 23 de agosto tenemos la IV Asamblea Nacional de organizciones populares contra el LIbre Comercio, asi que incorporaremos este punto como parte de nuestra agenda y estara presente nuestro apoyo y solidaridad en esta sesion.

Les enviamos muchos saludos y apoyo.
Carlos Aguilar
COMPA-Costa Rica

Hi friends,
We in Costa Rica, on exactly the 23 of august have the 4th National Assembly of
the Popular Organizations Against Free Trade, so we will incorporate this point
as part of our agenda and our support and solidarity will be present in this
session.

WE send you many greetings and support.

Carlos Aguilar
COMPA - Costa Rica

Dominican Republic Solidarity

Reciban nuestra solidaridad militante para los sin techo.

Pedro Franco
APC- Asamblea de los Pueblos del Caribe
República Dominicana

Receive our strong solidarity for the homeless.

Pedro Franco
Assembly of the Peoples of the Carribbean, Dominican Republic

Solidarity from Toronto

Saturday night, August 23, 2003

We gathered in the hundreds in Toronto’s “Yorkville”. That’s where the rich and famous come out to play in bohemian cafes and fine dining establishments, where the cost of a business dinner outing regularly exceeds what people on jobless assistance receive in a month in Ontario, the wealthiest province of a very wealthy colonial state. The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty had issued an invite to all the poor in Toronto to rally that night and “dine at the Tory trough”. A feast was indeed provided to the participants through the kindness of many supporters and volunteers of OCAP.

There, in the cement park with the rock mound, we stretched out banners and held conversations full of personal examples of how the wealth redistribution policies of the ruling provincial party negatively impact single mothers, the homeless, indigenous peoples, immigrant communities, students. We declared our resistance against the further erosion of our rights, now that they have done away with so many years’ worth of social struggle gains. Speakers denounced this system of oligarchic rule by the wealthy and spoke of the suffering that is inflicted upon the most vulnerable sectors of society through this project of domination.

Meanwhile, a counter-demonstration was monitoring our activities. They were mirthless despite being paid to be there, and wore the slogan “To Serve and Protect” as a reminder of their duty to their financial masters. Composed of mostly colonial heirs, this suppression-of-dissent force included over 300 Police from the region along with the military-style troops of the Ontario Provincial Police. They all had handguns, batons, steel-toed boots, and their entourage of cavalry and glistening metal toys where they hid in half-dozens, ready to jump out, bash, and detain those who dare to demand economic human rights and social justice.

During this protest, COMPA Canada worked to provide and obtain information that supports the process of convergence amongst North American social movements. Alex Flores painted a sign that was displayed at the gathering, and she also brought a video camera to document the rally and subsequent march. Lara Mrosovsky wore a cape that read “JUSTICE” as she mingled through the crowd talking with members of the coalition about the March of the Poor in the U.S.A. She was given time on the microphone to announce KWRU’s arrival in Washington DC, an important action which few people knew about.

The rally ended, and the people took over the streets of Yorkville in a charged-up march through the Tory trough. The forces of suppression followed, until we were prevented from making progress by strategically placed police blockades at Bloor St. and Avenue Rd. People dispersed, slowly. The street was cleared. Just a few people remained, eager to see the police forces retire. That’s when the plain clothes officers gave the order to arrest targeted individuals. A wild panic ensued where some people ran, attempting to escape, only to be thrown to the ground by gangs of riot-geared police.

Now OCAP faces a legal battle, as they have so many times before. And the fight to defeat the ruling party continues. We are united in struggle, and will not allow poverty to be made invisible or our voices to be silenced! Injustice and poverty will not remain unchallenged! Across North America, on August 23, 2003 we rose up together to denounce the violations of our human rights and to demand the full implementation of our economic, political, and cultural rights!

We demand an end to this economy of death!

We demand the rights of people before profits!

Jorge Pineda

LIFT – COMPA Canadá
Toronto, Canada