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Canadian Musicians Speak Out on G20 Protests in Toronto
- Posted on Jul 2nd 2010 5:40PM by Jesse Ship
Parts of downtown Toronto's vibrant music scene became a violent battle zone last weekend as the G20 Summit was held. In the wake of a small group of so-called anarchists attacking store windows and burning abandoned cop cars, heavily armoured riot police shot tear gas, rubber bullets, physically attacked peaceful protesters and used other forms of psychological warfare. Over 1,000 people were arrested and detained, media included, many just for showing up to exercise their rights as citizens.
Much of the action took place just steps from the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern, Steve's Music Store, and MuchMusic's Queen Street TV studio. Yonge-Dundas Square, where Iggy Pop and the Stooges performed for NXNE less than a week before, also fell victim to destruction and violence. Present among the peaceful protesters -- some in body, others in spirit -- were a handful of Canadian musicians.
Julie Penner, a gifted violinist who has played with Canadian bands like Broken Social Scene, Do Make Say Think, Lowest of the Low and the FemBots, marched on Saturday during the peaceful protest alongside Feist and Penner's boyfriend Jason Tait, drummer for the Weakerthans.
"We were in the official march with ten thousand people in the pouring rain, and it was great. We eventually came to abandoned police cars and couldn't understand what the cops were thinking by leaving them there." The police cars were eventually torched by groups of black-clad people identified as anarchists -- some speculate these cars were left intentionally by police to bait violent protesters and de-legitimize the peaceful ones.
"I thought this was a horrible step backwards in our history of democracy," Penner says. "I read things online, like, 'What are you going to do? At least we're not living in Iran.' F--- off! We do have rights here!"
Despite his involvement in the Weakerthans, a folk/punk band that have always been vocal about their politics, Jason felt the Toronto G20 was one of the most politicizing events he's ever been involved with. "I hadn't felt like this since the nuclear rallies in the '80s, where I really felt that I could die. I felt that my confidence in the police force, my government, and the powers that are supposed to look out for me was dissolved in the matter of a weekend."
Rapper, poet laureate of Edmonton and self described "song and dance man" Cadence Weapon (aka Rollie Pemberton) was not present for the events, but saw the summit as "a meeting of two extremes who both want to tear s--- up. You have people who come from miles around to smash windows under the banner of protest, and then there's cops coming from all over the country who want to beat up women or trample people with horses. They're both doing things they would normally never do."
Watching from Ottawa while rehearsing for a Canada Day celebration for the Queen of England, Pemberton saw familiar Toronto locations in a context he never thought possible. "I've walked past Queen and Spadina a million, trillion times. It was quite surreal to see it turned into a warzone. I can't imagine how long-time Toronto natives must have felt to be told, 'No, you can't walk down the street that way!'"
Damian Abraham of F---ed Up, who was playing a gig in New York that weekend, shares a similar point of view. "People shouldn't have to live in fear if they gather publicly in a peaceful manner."
Adam Scott, drummer of Green Go, environmental activist specializing in climate policy and an official observer at international UN meetings on climate change, made a conscious decision not to attend the protests.
"I'm not too keen on having my message mixed in with just anyone else's who decides to show up at a protest," he admits. "I feel for them and many of my friends were there, but it didn't make sense for me to go down."
Singer-songwriter Katie Stelmanis also lives in downtown Toronto, but was at work in the suburbs when the protests went down. Stelmanis actively tweeted protest reports and watched news broadcasts from local news network CP24. "I felt that our Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, used the G20 as a giant dinner party for heads of states," she argues. "In no way do I support him -- mostly for his serious cuts to arts grants, but also because he completely abolished our right to protest."
While some Torontonians faulted casual onlookers for being caught up in the chaos when they were warned to steer clear of troubled areas, Stelmanis retorts, "A lot of the suburbanites don't understand. How can we stay away from the violence while it is literally happening at our doorsteps and our streets are being overrun by riot police who are marching like it's the Third Reich? It's crazy!"
Plenty argue over whether this would have happened under the rule of a different political party than the Conservative government -- is the G20 bigger than one country? Bigger than the world even?
"It's weird that there's this arbitrary decision on what is worthwhile and what isn't," Pemberton muses. "It's like, 'We're going to snap our fingers and you're going to change your lifestyle for the entire time while we're around.'"
Abraham agrees, "I always thought our government to be a bit more refined than that of our neighbours to the south, but what this showed me was that we are no different than any Western government that uses force to keep people in line."
Although plenty of bands associate themselves with political or social causes, Abraham warns that not all are as committed as they pretend. "There's a lot of bands that market themselves politically, but until you actually do something about it, like write political songs or play at a demonstration, you're just a jack-off with a microphone using the 'political' label as a costume," he says.
John K Samson, former member of political punk band Propaghandi and founder of the Weakerthans, has written songs about world politics and human rights for many years. But rather than leaving his political involvement at that he also founded the left-wing publishing group, Arbeiter Ring Publishing (ARP), as a measure to protect people's rights.
"Maybe I'm naïve, but I was shocked at the overblown and criminal police response," he says. "I really admire all those who protested against these meetings, meetings that really only serve to impoverish the world in so many ways. I think when the real stories are heard and clear judgments are made, it will prove to be a victory for the protesters."
- Filed under: News, Exclusive, Between the Notes, Canada
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Dani
I think the issue regardless of the political view,is lack of information. It seems rather than investigating the matter,or otherwise educating ourselves on our rights ,governmental policies,police mandates,basically the: who what when and how,people are jumping to conclusions based on what they saw on tv,the problem is thats not telling the full story for either side,regardless of the side youre on. Opinions and and arguements based on ignorance are a waste of time and futile to better understand the issue at hand.
This is why people are trying to push for a proper and just inquiry,where those that did their jobs have nothing to fear,and those that failed to do their job,those that put both citizens and a city at risk be some how held accountable. Both sides should want the truth,as there are some questions that we as tax payers deserve to know.I mean for arguments sake,whats done is done, but how and why and by who is really what I'm concerned with...Its why I'm going to the festival on saturday,and while I'll keep going on going too!!!
Donna
Thank you maggiejoh2005, well said.
July 04 2010 at 9:43 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
okay
Yes each one that participated in that march ............oh the riot should be charged. And if did not want to be picked up by police or mishandled by police.....why were you there, in the first place. These people have literally embarrassed Canada. You want your voice heard sign a petition and ask to represent that issue by one of the delegates. What this street group were doing, half the people in Canada probably lost track of what they were representing because of what happened. Burning police cars, smashing store fronts,etc. These businesses are trying to make a living which has not a thing to do with a summit. He group and people in the march should be charged plus pay the damaged businesses, cars, etc compensation for all the lost business and for the damages. These marchers' behaviour is not acceptable in Canada or any other parts of the world.
July 04 2010 at 8:56 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Michael Tiffe
I agree the issue is to vote in the freely held elections here in Canada. If you are not happy with the results, than help your canidiate get elected in the next election. Canada is a democracy but also a place where the majority forget to show-up on election day.
July 04 2010 at 7:12 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Skeptic
1 reply to Skeptic's comment
Like all of the protesters I am well aware of my rights. However, if for one lousy weekend you can't cooperate with the police and stay away from the fences that have been erceted to secure government officials from around the world then I have only one thing to say: "grow up!" By Monday morning all of your precious civil liberties were restored (indeed you would never have known that they were in any way temporarily suspended if you hadn't have wasted your time being in pest and going nose to nose with the cops, who did an excellent job and were very restrained (I have seen demonstrations elsewhere in the free world and trust me, the cops were very restrained!
As for the "peaceful protesters", didn't you read the agenda that was published in the paper earlier in the week? Oh! Your pet peeve wasn't on it? What a shame! Perhaps these people had something a little more important to talk about like memnding the world economy. They didn't hear your protests, didn't know what you were protesting about and on this occasion, didn't particularly care. Save your issues for election time. Vote for a candidate that you feel best represents you. Don't see anyone on the ballot that stands for insurrection and anarchy? Simple, stand for election yourself - see how many votes you get. People, it's called democracy!
eeb
Civil liberties are precious!!
Canadians have been taught to value their rights. Shame on YOU!
regina boy
i would like to go there right now and turn some shit over! protesters should grow some balls and start fighting, i mean were not gandhi over there, were canadain and whenever Canada has a problem we confront it. Some times it takes powerful people, and other times we bare our arms. In any case it just doesn't seem right to me that the best our people can do for standing up for this great country and there rights is to sit down. come on Canada wake up
July 04 2010 at 1:48 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
autumn
right on evonna, what some dont realize, is the taxpayers will prob have to come good for the damage - the hoodlums prob dont pay taxes so they dont care - I just checked the sales on airfares, they can all go to Iran, one way for just $99.00 where they dont get arrested for what they did, they get a bullet, A REAL BULLET..... what an embarrassment they caused to the most peaceful country in the world, OH CANADA... shame on you all.....
Trench
The police did a great job. I have heard of no one who was trampled by a horse. I have heard of a bunch of a**holes burning cars and smashing windows that made peaceful protest impossible.
Blame the right people for what happened!
maggiejoh2005
"Yes stuff happened that shouldnt have, but.." What is wrong with you people? Are you completely blind or do you have your head up your @$$? My Grandfather, great Grandfather and my Uncle have all fought for this country and you're going to try and sit there and justify what the police did for the G20? Why did the police stand back and watch as the police cars were torched? Why didn't they help a man when he tackled a looter and forced him to put back what he had stolen? And why did the police block in peaceful protesters on Sunday? They never used their bullhorns to warn the crowd to disperse BEFORE they started arresting people. And they were arresting people for exercising THEIR RIGHTS. F*** any of you who would be willing to give up a little bit of your freedom for the temporary "protection" the police claim to have provided. My family members did not fight for me to live in a nation that disregards my charter rights and basic human rights (under the UN) arbitrarily. They fought for DEMOCRACY.
"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." Benjamin Franklin
Neil
1 reply to Neil's comment
First off, lets clear somethings up, just because you are a police office doesn't make you and A hole, but being a police officer doesn't give you the right to break the same laws you are supose to uphold. What we need is transparency here, not every police officer at the G-20 acted out of line, but there were officers comitting crimes no matter how you look at it. We as a community need to see those officers who were out of line, and tarnishing the many other fine police officers reputation, held accountable. Lead by example, not "do as I say, not as I do" mentality.
People have a right to protest. BOTTOM LINE, if you want to stay home where its "safe" thats your decision, but there are people how will stand up and make there voice heard. We are Canada, the people, not Steven Harper, not a particular police force, not a single media outlet. This is deffinetly not a black & white issue, and its extremly naive to assume it is.
If you don't agree with the actions or concerns of an oposing group, why not take the time to educate yourself instead of assuming you have all the answers. Think about why people are willing to risk their safety and freedom to break a window of a large corporation, with thousands of police officers at arms length. Also consider how people are effected emotionally by having people destroying their city, the place they live day to day.
Truth is not given to you by any media outlet, politician, police force. They all have their own agenda Theres always more to a story. Open your eyes. People & companies are doing evil things everyday, right under your nose. Don't be taken in by distractions, search for the truth.
Donna
Nice. Someone who thinks.
July 04 2010 at 9:41 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
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