The Left has been one of the staunchest critics of the mainstream (bourgeoisie) press. But in recent years, with the attack by the likes of Trump on news outfits, the creation of notions such as alt-facts, and fake news — some of of us have held our noses and changed our tack. We’ve stopped criticizing the press. I certainly have, I was wrong.

These last few weeks in Canada has seen the immense coordination of racist myths, blatant lies and incredibly disingenuous reporting by each and every mainstream media outlet. Sure, there are exceptions, but the overall editorial line has made it abundantly clear that the media of the bosses speaks for the bosses.

Considering almost any media stories on the blockades in the last week. Each of them sets up their stories like this: “The blockaders say they are in favour of the Hereditary Chiefs.. The Hereditary Chiefs oppose the pipeline.. 20 elected band councils support it.. The Police says they are trying to keep everyone safe.”

Two and only two antagonisms are created — blockaders vs police; Hereditary Chiefs vs elected band councils. Read closely, and you realize that there are almost no quotes or statements from Coastal Gaslink. In effect, the major antagonist in this conversation, the private investments and the few rich people who will end up becoming richer sit behind in the shadows. Over and over again, pundits and journalists ponder — what do they really want? ‘They’ being the blockaders and the Hereditary Chiefs. It is taken for granted that what Coastal Gaslink wants is obvious, correct and does not need comment. Similarly, the question of land rights and self-determination erases politicians entirely. Even a cursory study shows you that almost no media stories mention the most simplest of contradictions — that the BC government has passed UNDRIP mere months ago, and that its actions are in direct contradiction.

The government is allowed complete license to obscure truth. We have seen Trudeau and Horgan insist that they do not control the police. And then on a four day turnaround declared that their patience has worn thin. Lo and behold, police forces across the country have escalated arrests in each province. If there was an iota of moral clarity, journalists and editors who had reported the initial ‘separation of police and government’ line would be releasing statements about how they reported lies.

It is despite the overall trajectory of mainstream media — people across Canada are having a discussion and debate on colonialism, the Indian Act, impoverishment, consent, and band councils. And learning. The fact that a recent poll showed that 30% of the country is with us is a testament to what we have achieved despite the best efforts of the press, the police, and the politicians.

Outfits such as Submedia, The Narwhal, Straight, Tyee, Real People’s Media, Richochet and straight up unpaid activists on Twitter have held the line on facts, and on context. APTN has done its part of course. Columnists are allowed to speak freely — but their’s is an opinion. The news are the lies told as facts. And lest, there are any doubts, many (not all) journalists of colour are just as complicit.

If you are reading this, you probably agree with me. The real question is now what? Now we must talk to everyone we know, repeat our truths more often, sing our songs louder. Your friends and families are being lied to — connect with them. Amplify frontline voices on social media — find Unistoten Camp and Gid’im’ten on all channels. And there is no better truth telling than doing. #ShutDownCanada, and live stream it.