[antiwar-van] MAWO Public Statemtent Against Harrassment at Langara

[Kira Koshelanyk]

Mobilization Against War and Occupation Public Statement Against Harrassment of Activist at Langara College
 
 
Wednesday, September 15th, 2004


On Wednesday, September 15th, 2004 Nicole Burton, an organizer with Vancouver’s antiwar, anti-occupation coalition Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO), coordinator of the Langara Students Union (LSU) Peace and Social Issues Committee, and a Langara student was handing out leaflets on her campus for events during the Student Week Against War and Occupation. At 10:30 am she approached a group of students, and one student named Mark immediately began to attack the politics of the event, and specifically attacked a speaker at one of the events the previous day. He was addressing a presentation brought by an organizer from MAWO, a man of colour and from the third world, saying that had no qualifications to speak on the subject of war and occupation. "We don't know where this guy is coming from", he said. 

Nicole defended the speaker, who was a fellow member of her organization, but also an oppressed person from an occupied country. She told Mark that his comment was racist. To this, he grew more agitated, and said "What did you say? Did you call me a racist?". Nicole clarified that she wasn't attacking him rather, she was identifying the comment as being a racist comment. He then threatened to physically assault her and said "NO- this is OVER. And if I had time right now, I would take you outside." 

After this incident, Nicole and other student organizers called security of Langara College and filed a report with them of a threat of physical assault, and then filed the report with the police. Security informed MAWO organizers and Mark that if he attempted to speak to Nicole or attend further events she is helping to organize, that organizers should call security, and he would be removed from of the building. 

In the September 15th meeting of Mobilization Against War and Occupation, a motion was passed to condemn this threat of physical assault. Firstly, it was a threat of violence from a man to a woman, which is a sexist attack and gender suppression based on a threat of violence. We must publicly denounce any and all violence, abuse, or threats against women, and declare that it is completely unacceptable for a man to tell a woman that she will be "taken outside" for stating her beliefs. Secondly, we must defend our rights as political organizers to be safe on campuses and all public places, by defending our right to pass out leaflets, organize, and discuss politics without fear of intimidation or violence against us. Lastly, constitutionally and legally, we have the democratic right to free speech. As granted under the Fundamental Freedoms section of the Canadian Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, everyone has the "...freedom of thought, belief, opinion and  expression..."  

Finally, this is a political question and must be addressed based on the balance of forces against oppressed people. As political organizers, we cannot accept threats, intimidation or violence against any organizers without defending them. This is to establish that we can discuss and debate our differences, even express anger and emotion -- but we cannot threaten violence, or use violence. As in the case of Nicole and this student, it is an issue of oppression; by the student's remarks that their conversation was "over", followed by a threat of physical force, implied that he was finished with any sort of equal political debate, and was prepared to take it to a level of violence and assault. And when relating this to the issue of oppression on a global scale, this is exactly how the United States is now dealing with Iraq; using its force and might to silence and attack.

We organize against war and occupation as they are the most serious attacks on oppressed people internationally. When we are attacked at home, we need to defend ourselves as oppressed people, as women, students, workers, people of colour, and people from the third world. We cannot stand silent, and will use whatever means necessary to defend our safety, rights and freedoms. We must do this in order to continue to organize effectively. We must ensure that any sexist, racist or homophobic attack, any attack that undermines our democratic rights is confronted by our organization and we make it clear that these attacks will not be tolerated. Despite this attack, MAWO will continue to organize on campus, and will continue to defend against racist or sexist attacks, in our struggle against war and oppression and for social justice.

 

Kira Koshelanyk and Shannon Bundock

Co-Chairs, Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO)

***www.mawovancouver.org***





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