Rick Mercer says it best.
At 1:00 pm tomorrow (Saturday), there will be protests in 50+ locations across Canada. Ottawa’s rally will be on Parliament Hill at 1:00. The times and locations of all the rallies are listed on the No Prorogue site.
The purpose of these protests is to send a clear message to the Prime Minister that we are opposed to him shutting down Parliament for months at a time for the purpose of circumventing democracy. This is the second time he’s done it in just over a year. Last time it was to avoid a vote of non-confidence. This time it’s to avoid answering questions and turning over evidence about our government’s knowledge of the torture of Afghan detainees.
As of this writing, 209,860 people have joined the Facebook group Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament. The Prime Minister believes Canadians are too apathetic to do anything more than that.
I would strongly urge every single Canadian who cares about this country and how it’s run to make a point of going to their local rally tomorrow. The Prime Minister is counting on you to stay home. Democracy is counting on you to show up.
Actually, it’s a lot more then 33 locations; it appears to be above 60 last I looked.
I will be there tomorrow, camera in hand.
At the very least, I hope that anyone who signed on to the Facebook page will do everything possible to be at one of the protests. Otherwise, what I am sure they intended to be a positive role in the debate will actually turn out to have lasting negative implications. Indeed, if too many don’t bother showing up after having signed on to the Facebook page, it will be that much easier in the future to say that 200,000 + on Facebook means squat. So, if it meant that much to you that you signed on, SHOW UP! And if you didn’t sign on but the issue IS important to you: SHOW UP! Cheers.
Rick Mercer is my hero!
A few of the name-brand pundits in the traditional media say the Facebook group is only about drive-by, buttonclicking slacktivism.
A few more label the outcry a blip that a good circus in Vancouver will flush from our tiny ADD minds.
Tories tell us the media manufactured the whole issue, and the ‘real’ public backs Mr Harper’s amoral manipulations.
There’s a lot of conflicting expert opinion in all of that.
Let’s just prove ’em all wrong…
Oh, I have a hot date tomorrow, or I would go.
I’ll be there.
Even more important than the rallies is getting out and voting against the Tories in the next election, assuming that’s what we’re saying. How many of the 200K don’t bother to vote?
If there’s someone who is on the fence about going, please go on my behalf; I have to work and won’t make it. (Woodsy, what better venue for a hot date?)
– RG>
I’ll be there. Great post.
Scott, thanks, I updated it.
Valerie, me too.
Libra and Coyote, excellent points. Woodsy, bring your date and all his friends. Gillian, another good point.
Who’s attending for Grouchy?
Hope to see you all there!
Here are some photos and videos from the anti-prorogation rally in Ottawa.