Resist
A grassroots collection of stories, poetry, photos and analyses from the Quebec City FTAA protetst and beyond

Chang, Jen; Or, Bethany; Tharmendran, Eloginy; Tsumura, Emmie; Daniels, Steve; Leroux, Darryl
Publisher:  Fernwood Publishing, Halifax, Canada
Year Published:  2001  
Pages:  192pp   ISBN:  1-55266-063-X
Library of Congress Number:  JC328.3.R48 2001   Dewey:  322.4'09714
Resource Type:  Book
Cx Number:  CX6698

A dynamic collection of personal accounts, creative works, reflections, images and analyses about the protests against the FTAA summit that took place in April 2001 in Quebec City.

Abstract:  RESIST! is a dynamic collection of personal accounts, creative works, reflections, images and analyses about the protests that took place on the third weekend of April 2001 in Quebec City as a response to the FTAA summit and systemic global oppression. Resist! aims to fight the corporate media view of those events. The editorial collective hopes to establish the revolutionary power of the "so called anti-globalization" movement. The book opens with two detailed maps which outline the security zone: the areas of Quebec city which were fenced in by a three meter high wall and inhabited by the police forces; the various sites used for demonstration and retreat; and the locations of confrontation between activists and security.

The editors explicate a central terminology to understanding their book: the three colour zones theory (green, yellow and red), which was used to define the different types of demonstration areas that were used throughout the protests. Each designated level posed a different risk of arrest to the protesters, in which red was the most severe and was designed to include as many people as possible, while respecting the differential opinions people have in regards to the freedom of demonstration. Despite this theoretical differentiation, when in practice in April 2001 the editors relate how security forces failed to respect the different levels such that all three levels became red. This inevitably led to the arbitrary arrest, beating, tear gassing and shooting of people in all three zones at any time throughout the duration of protests.

The book is divided into a series of five parts. Part 1, entitled Declaring Freedom provides the reader with the political mandates of three activist groups that opposed to the proceedings of the FTAA summit. In From the Front: Accounts of Quebec City, the reader is provided with vivid photographic, prose and poetic accounts by protesters in Quebec City. Part 3, Voicing Injustice: Harassment and Jail Testimonies documents the violation of civil liberties and human rights as experienced by activists. This section includes narratives, pictures and poems. In Part Four, Taking it Home I: Reflections, the contributors attempt to reconcile their emotions by putting their experiences into perspective within their written pieces. Finally, the contributors in Part 5 share with both the reader and fellow activist possible courses of action to take based on the lessons learned from the events in Quebec City. The editors conclude with words of gratitude to their international community of "militants/tes" and a call for seeking non-hierarchical spaces in order to achieve a just society.

[Abstract by Amanpreet Dhami]



Table of Contents

Preface

Part One: Declaring Freedom
The Struggle for Water: The Cochabamba Declaration
Statement from Akwesasne Community Organizers
Declaration of the Second People's Summit

Part Two: From the Front - Accounts from Quebec City
The True Story Behind the Anarchist Invasion of Quebec City
A Quebec City Diary
A Kiss for the Riot Cop
Anishinaabe Girl in Quebec
Double Agent Dey
From Behind the Barricades
Standing on the fence of division: Through the eyes of a minority
This Is Where Everyone Belongs
Quebec City: A Love Story
Photo Essay

Part Three: Voicing Injustice- Harassment and Jail Testimonies
In Quebec, they used tear gas
Documenting Dissent
(Un)Reasonable Search and Seizure in Quebec City: Lessons from an Emerging Filmmaker
Akwesasne Cross-Border Action, April 19, 2001 : A Mohawk Community and OCAP Confront State Repression
Not With a whimper
Imprisoned in Montreal
You Could See the Shame on Their Faces
Liberated in Quebec City

Part Four: Taking It Home I - Reflections
Captivated by Conditions
Rage and Shine
Gas Not Only Cause for Tears at Trade Summit
Analyzing Quebec's Intifada
Quebec- Je me souviens
The Media Army
Counterspin
Free Media and Free Trade: Redefining the Vernacular
A Generation that Knows the Taste of Tear Gas
Experiences and Conversations in Quebec City

Part Five: Taking it Home II - Where to Go From Here
Women Talking about Sexism in the Anti-Globalization Movement
Living Earth
Under
Rebuilding the Global Rebellion
Lest We Forget?
Bondage Free
Anti-Racist Organizing: Reflecting on Lessons from Quebec City
Building Sustainable Communities of Resistance
Epilogue
References

Subject Headings