Infinite Solidarité with Infinite Strike!
Posted 11 years ago on June 14, 2012, 1:39 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt
Screen cap showing map of locations holding casserole demos in support of Québec
Last night, thousands of people across hundreds of cities once again rallied in solidarity with the Québec student strike during the third weekly Casseroles Across Canada (and the world) wave of demonstrations. Across the globe, we march in a mutual struggle not only in support of the student strike, but opposed to austerity and repression in all countries and in favor of free education for all. The Occupy/15M movement continues to stand in solidarity with the grève générale illimitée. The next wave of demos is schedule for next week.
ggi #gginyc #manifencours #casserolesencours
via NYCGA.net
SOLIDARITY WITH QUÉBEC STUDENT STRIKE GOES ON
INFINITE SOLIDARITY WITH A CALL FOR INFINITE GENERAL STRIKE
May 22 marked the 100th day of the ongoing Québec student strike, one of the largest student mobilizations in history. Demonstrations against the massive tuition hikes (which would increase tuition by 60% over five years) occurred daily across Quebec, with over 160,000 students on “infinite strike.” The Québec government enacted a draconian emergency law (Bill 78) intended to break the strike. The legislation in effect outlaws public assembly, imposes harsh fines for strike activity and criminalizes protest, just as the struggle is gaining popular support and escalating to unprecedented levels. Many are questioning the law’s constitutionality.
Bill 78 Summary
- Fines of between $1,000 and $5,000 for any individual who prevents someone from entering an educational institution
- The fines are higher for student leaders (up to $35,000) and for unions or student federations (up to $125,000)
- Fines double with repeat offenses
- Authorities must be notified at least 8 hours in advance about public demonstrations involving more than 10 people.
- Organizers must provide the start time and duration of the demonstration, as well as the routes of any marches
- No on-campus protests. Protests outside universities must stay at least 15 feet from entrances
- Encouraging someone, explicitly or tacitly, to protest at a school is subject to punishment
No More “Good Faith”
The government of Québec has conceded the power of the students by suspending the current semester, while the education minister has been forced to resign amid the crisis. The Québec Premier Jean Charest claims that the government has negotiated in “good faith,” but the student unions say that the government has refused to budge on the central issue: TUITION HIKES. Students are fighting to maintain affordable, accessible higher education for all the people of Quebec. The crisis has put into question the political future of the Premiere’s Liberal Party and his own career. Civil liberties in Québec are being fundamentally undermined. “Good faith” is dwindling between the people and the government.
What is an Infinite General Strike?
The infinite strike is a voluntary and collective cessation of activities in order to assert claims that would not be addressed otherwise. The word “infinite” points to a confrontational stance with the government. It does not mean that the strike is limitless, but that its length is undetermined in advance. This means that the strike goes on until demands are met or until the body decides to stop the strike. In the case of Québec’s student mobilization, the students meet every week to decide whether to continue the strike. The educational system is a crucial part of the economy and it requires human capital in order to function. Only through a strike is it possible to create the institutional congestion generated by a whole cohort of students that may not graduate. That is why an open-ended general strike is such a powerful weapon.
Why the Québec Student Strike Matters For NYC
We are all in the Red!
In Québec strikers, demonstrators and sympathizers alike have shown their solidarity through the emblem of a red square, signifying a state of “being in the financial red”—untenable student debt. In the United States, the Federal Reserve recently stated that student debt stood at $870 billion, while the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (a new government agency regulating private student loans) estimated that it had already surpassed $1 trillion. As more and more students stand up and organize against exorbitant escalations in tuition and debt, similar draconian laws have been passed in the US. Unprecedented levels of police brutality have been perpetrated against student uprisings across New York City—at Baruch College, Brooklyn College and the New School, just to name a few. The state seeks to silence these students, many of whom have been arrested on trumped up charges that reek of biased intimidation.
It would appear that we too are in the red, both financially and politically. This is untenable. It is time that we stand in solidarity with students in Quebec and across the world to fight for our right to free education.
Our demonstration in solidarity with Quebec students is also in defense of our right to assemble and protest. An increase in the powers of the police and the state anywhere is an attack on us everywhere. State repression exists globally and it is unjustifiable. We will not stand by and watch our already limited voices be silenced even more. The warnings and fear mongering of new protest laws being enacted in Frankfurt, Chicago and Montreal will not deter us. The new laws only prove that our mass mobilizations are a threat to the powers that be. We will be heard. We will take part in our own lives and not be pawns for the workings of capitalism. Our rights are not given to us by governments but established by us.
OUR LIVES ARE NOT NEGOTIABLE!
Call to Students, Workers and Debtors of New York
With call on students, workers and debtors from all walks of life to stand with us in our right to assemble and dissent in our commons, against police brutality and intimidation. There is nothing to fear or be ashamed of in this. There is only strength and solidarity for us to find each other. As we stand with the students of Quebec, we acknowledge their grievances, and join their chorus with our own. As Quebec does not stand down, neither will New York. We are not afraid, and see no limit on the horizon.
All we see is red!
WE ARE ALL IN THE RED!
Terrible article. You're completely missing the real picture. The rest of Canada does not support these students at all. Why you ask? Well we here in Canada have something called equalization payments. They ensure every province is able to provide at least the same amount of public services as the average province in Canada. We don't let have not provinces go without decent schools, roads, healthcare, etc. Quebec is a have not province. They have ALWAYS been a have not province. Hence the rest of Canada gives them billions a year out of the goodness of our hearts.
How does Quebec thank us you ask? I mean they take our money, and use it to fund tuition rates, daycare, etc. the rest of Canada can only dream of. They throw a temper tantrum, and threaten to leave confederation anytime we don't give them enough money. Hell, not so long ago "Her Majesties Loyal Opposition" was a separatist party. They refuse to fly the Canadian flag over the "nation assembly". Heck, a sizable chuck (Celine Dion comes to mind) say they are Quebecers, not Canadians. Oh, but they take the money. At this point the rest of Canada is ready to KICK THEM OUT OF CANADA. They'd be a third world country.
But what REALLY sticks in my craw; any Quebecer can go anywhere in Canada and pay the Canadian rate. Any none Quebecer going to Quebec pays something like triple! Ok, we can probably agree to free education in principle; but only if it is for ALL Canadians. You don’t take charity, and then flip off the donor!
Finally, worst case a four year degree is $15,000/year in the rest of Canada. (No scholarships, no parent help, living on campus on your own dime.) In Canada's economy you can easily pay that in cash working part time starting in HS during the semester, and full time in the summer. I'm talking waiting tables, and holding a "slow" sign on a road crew in the summer.
Until Quebec at least comes to the table as Canadians, and accepts that anything that happens will apply equally to all Canadians; than I speak for most Canadians when I say the Quebec students can go do naughty things to themselves.
You're mixing up problems.
Equalization payments in Canada change year after year and depend on many factors. The goal is for the provinces to help each other. Every single province of Canada has received equalization payments at some point or another. In 2012-2013, all province will receive this payment except for Albert, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, and British Columbia.
As for education, it's up to the provinces to fund that. They can do it how they please. Some have higher tuition fees, some have lower ones. There's no reason why Québecers shouldn't be allowed to fight for free education. And there's no reason why they shouldn't charge more for students from other provinces. If they charge too high, they are the ones losing out since students from other provinces will simply not come.
And, it doesn't matter what you think is the worst case. The argument is that education should be free. Some anarchists even say students should be paid to study. Saying that education should not be free in Québec because it's the cheapest education tuitions in Canada is not an argument. There's always cheaper somewhere. In Europe it's free in many countries. Anyhow, it's for Québecers to decide, not people from other provinces. They run the education system like they please, just like every other province does.
You can argue with these points of course, but to say that Québec owes something to other provinces because of equalization payments is ludicrous. Every province does their own thing in terms of education. Canada is a federation of provinces, and, as such, the provinces have some power to make decisions.
It is time to show the power of the people. To take back what is our's. To promote innovation not poverty. Promote care and respect for one-another not greed or war. We must come out in numbers, we most join the people on the streets. As our numbers grow, people will join us. We must set a goal and reach it. We most execute something so powerful that can not be ignored. So big it can be seen from the furthest galaxy. So loud it crushes the forces of evil. We most grow this awareness to a peak. A peak that can be sustained and has meaning. A vision for the future. We can no longer indulge in this materialistic life we once knew. Not until we innovate our culture, our environment,our selves, our minds. Do not be discouraged by our numbers. As we report our growing numbers, more will join us. I feel none of them wanna feel alone. As tho they are breaking free only to find an empty path. We must put aside our differences and focus our strength on common ground. To live free. To live in state that promotes free thinking, innovation. To live in a system that always you to expand your mind and gives everyone the means to express that expansion. We must do this thing or perish.
TFC
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great artical
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Numbers are rather poor indications of mental state realities. The actual trigger of the Arab Spring WAS a SURPRISE to the U.S. intelligence community. It is true that they had long known the tinderbox of discontents but knowing how LONG it had NOT been lit up because of repressions made complacency the norm. There was therefore the quick and confused tap dancing as the Arab Spring spread. A "tiny" spark is all that it takes to change the entire course of history. Just think about where the very few dangling chits and absentee ballots in Florida got us and our brethren into in the last twelve years.
Just pointing out that people who use this forum don't seem to be that interested in actual activities that OWS is doing. I am as guilty as many others.
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