Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his federal Conservative Party plan to introduce anti-terror legislation later in the week, which peace activists fear will severely limit their rights of freedom of speech and assembly.
A picket in Edmonton was organized by the Edmonton Coalition Against War and Racism (ECAWAR). “The Harper government cannot be permitted to provide self-serving definitions of terrorism which confound it with Islam or the right to resist, as in the case of the Palestinian and other peoples fighting occupation, foreign aggression or state terror. It cannot be permitted to engage in acts of state terrorism under the pretext of opposing terrorism,” it said on ECAWAR’s event page for the picket.
“To accuse someone of terrorism or assisting terrorism is a very serious matter, and the standards of due process must be of the highest level, not the lowest. Now is the time for everyone to speak out that Canadians will not accept such standards being thrown out the window and replaced with arbitrary powers to criminalize anyone on the basis of opinion.”
ECAWAR representatives cited potential “zero tolerance” support for boycott, divestment, and sanctions as an example of ways in which activists may be prevented from acting upon their conscience when it comes to peace in the Middle East. BDS, as it is also called, refers to avoiding purchasing products made in Israel, especially if produced by Israeli companies in the occupied or disputed areas.
ECAWAR says that it will be hitting the street on the regular basis to encourage voters to get rid of Harper and his government in the next federal election.
