Mexican consulate pickets set up in Toronto and Vancouver

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Toronto

Picket in Toronto The Canadian Hands Off Venezuela campaign helped to organize a successful picket of the Mexican consulate in downtown Toronto on Friday afternoon, as part of an international day of action against the electoral fraud in Mexico. HOV was joined by some local activists who are currently involved in raising awareness of the Mexican state’s repression in Atenco. Together, the picketers passed out a couple of hundred leaflets informing people of the fraud being committed by the Mexican bosses, in conjunction with foreign imperialism. Picketers carried placards that read “Election recount now” and “Harper: Hands off Mexico”, referring to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s premature recognition of Felipe Calderón’s fraudulent victory in the Mexican election.

The picket was organized on the steps leading into the building housing the Mexican consultate – right in the centre of Toronto’s financial district and the heart of Canadian imperialism. Within minutes of being set up, security personnel exited the building and told the picketers to disperse. The Mexican consulate was apparantly not pleased that we were at the front entrance informing passersby about the electoral fraud. The security personnel attempted to threaten us by telling us that we were not even allowed on the sidewalk (public property) and that if we persisted, they would contact the police. Apparantly the Mexican state is not content with subverting democracy in Mexico alone – now they wish to subvert democracy in Canada, as well!

Vancouver

Picket in Vancouver On Friday, 14 July a dozen people gathered to picket the Mexican Consulate in downtown Vancouver. The picket was organized by activists from Hands Off Venezuela in protest of the massive election fraud that has taken place in Mexico. They carried signs saying slogans like “Recount Now!” and “Obrador: Mexico’s President, Calderon: Nobody’s President”. The picket lasted for about an hour. Many people stopped to talk about the situation, curious about what was happening. We hope our modest action has helped send a message to the powers that be in Mexico; the people will not be silenced.