Toronto: Anti-PEGIDA after-action report

From the Toronto IWW General Defence Committee Local 28 On Saturday May 4th, 2019, PEGIDA Canada (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West) – the anti-Muslim, anti-immigration, white nationalists, along with their collaborators – assembled for a rally and a march outside Staples’s University and Armoury location just steps away from City Hall with alarming numbers yet again. The fact they did this on Star Wars day out of Read More …

Toronto: Antifascist Mobilization Shuts Down Far-Right Anti-Muslim Groups

On March 23, 2019 PEGIDA, members of a far-right anti-Islam organization descended on downtown Toronto to hold one of their monthly anti-Muslim rallies. They were joined by far-right extremists from the Northern Guard, Wolves of Odin and Yellow Vests Canada, a grassroots wing of the Conservative Party of Canada.This rally took place in the aftermath of the horrifying al-Noor mosque and Linwood Islamic Center massacres in Christchurch, New Zealand. 50 worshipers died in those attacks. Hundreds of community members, anti-racists, anti-fascists and allies turned out, shut PEGIDA down and sent them packing, making it clear once and for all that there is no room for hatred in Toronto. Read More …

Rest In Power, Dave Vasey

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our friend, comrade, and local 28 Fellow Defender Dave Vasey.

An outspoken advocate for environmental justice, anti-fascist organizing, and decolonization, Dave dedicated his life to fighting against state and corporate powerhouses that he saw as a threat to the working class, and to the world as a whole. In spite of the fact that he was years older than your average frontline activist he was always the first to lead the charge, to organize a fight back, and to deliver a rousing speech that would put fire into the belly of even the most apprehensive revolutionary.

A true fighter to the end, he spent his last days on the frontlines of some of the largest anti-fascist actions Toronto has seen in decades, and was heavily engaged in the soaring eagles camp, as well as solidarity actions in support of the Unist’ot’en camp.

He is survived by his cat Tom who has been adopted by two local 28 members, and his memory will echo in all of our future actions.

“Love is the movement.” Read More …