2nd consulta to block the return to school !

On May 18th , the Charest government adopted the infamous Bill 78, intending to force us back to class with restrictive laws and the threat of severe penalties. It's clear that this new measure is causing fear and that's exactly it's goal - just as sound grenades in demonstrations are intended to frighten us, weaken our ranks and estrange us from our spirit of solidarity. Thus, we must stay united despite this new affront. It is through unity that we build our force, and the strike is the ideal form of collective action. Direct actions, mass demonstrations and other forms of resistance have only been possible because of the immense effort of strikers, who have spent 3 months carrying out demonstration after action after meeting.

Let's think of all our families, friends, colleagues, and student comrades whose lives have been turned around during these last few months, who have devoted their bodies and minds to the struggle for the right to education. We can't let this drop, we can't let ourselves fall after all this effort.

This is a lot more that just one special law. The conservatives have forced through 6 in 5 years, and the liberals have passed 5 already. We consider this a brutal method of domination that makes a mockery of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms with respect to freedom of conscience, opinion, expression, and of assembly and association. That's why we're making a call to all victims of special laws, and those who wish to bring down the special laws.

We understand that the commodification and privatization of education are the direct consequences of the capitalist system's need to expand. We also understand the extent of the role anticapitalists have played in the strike, and we invite you to join us in anti-capitalist and anti-oppressive reflection. We'll be holding this consulta independent from the student unions to assure the continuity of mobilization while maintaining the associative structures as far as possible from attacks prescribed by Bill 78. Since those who are planning this forced return to class, the SQ and SPVM, are conceptualizing the plan on a scale that is Montreal-wide, we'll need to coordinate our efforts on the same scale.

To do so, we are calling on all those willing to oppose Bill 78, to see where the organizing efforts are in the different colleges and universities, to find mobilization strategies before the return to class, and to find common tactics we can use to maintain the strike or to cancel the classes in August. An initial consulta was held on July 7, bringing together over one hundred people. It’s time to pick up where we left off and continue the mobilization!

What is a consulta?

A consulta is a formal and consultative meeting to address a specific question with the goal of coordinating collective and individual efforts around everyone's interests. The main objectives are to see what is already done so we can plan our work more efficiently, to potentially start new projects, and to facilitate informal networking amongst us.

All are invited to take part in the consulta, as the stakes of this strike are now those of Bill 78: freedom of speech, the right to demonstrate, freedom to strike and freedom of association.

Where and When?

The consulta on blocking the return to classes will be held on August 2 at 5:30 pm on the 7th floor of the Hall Building at Concordia University (1455 de Maisonneuve West). Let’s come together and kill three birds with one stone: block the return to classes, block the special law, and fight capitalism! Stay up to date at www.bloquonslarentree.com.