

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 theQuébec 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!