Solidarity Emerges in Convoy to Ottawa
1. Solidarity: A Brief History
Solidarity. It’s a big word with even bigger implications for our world today. The trucker’s convoy to Ottawa, converging from points both east and west, has catalyzed a Freedom movement that had been mostly underground until recently. Even now the discredited mainstream media continues to misrepresent the convoy as “misguided”[1] or outright demonize it as some kind of far-right “extremist” group. The CBC—continuing to dig itself deeper into the black hole of mistrust it has created for itself—at one point laughably tried to dismiss the convoy as a protest about high gas prices. Any convoy supporter with an iPhone standing in the freezing winter temperatures could have corrected this impression in five minutes. Video footage posted online clearly shows truck after truck with signs that read: “Freedom for Canada,” “End Mandates Now,” “No More Vax Pass,” or related sentiments.
Justin Trudeau’s inflammatory rhetoric has come back to bite him you know where as Parliament Hill was filled with 100,000 Canadians waving similar signs. Some of them used irony to co-opt Trudeau’s claim that the truckers were a “small fringe minority” group “holding unacceptable views.” A Twitter thread is now proudly titled: “We are the Fringe.” [2] One protestor’s sign on Parliament Hill summed it up: “Politicians are the fringe minority group.” And anyway, since when has it been the role of government to compel its citizens what to think or believe? We elect them, we pay their overly generous salaries and pensions, and they want to mess with our heads and tell us who we can invite for Christmas dinner? At least we can be thankful that, with only a few individual exceptions, all political parties have shown themselves equally useless in protecting Canadian rights and freedoms. That should prove a lightning rod for political reform when the dust finally settles.
We can be grateful to Calgary pastor Artur Pawlowski, who re-introduced the term “solidarity” as a popular meme among the Freedom movement now reaching its most visible manifestation with the Canadian truckers’ convoy. Pawlowski grew up in Poland, which had suffered under the heavy hand of Communism since 1946. “Solidarity” emerged as the unofficial name of the first independent trade union formed in the Eastern bloc of Communist countries, made famous in 1980 by workers’ strikes headed by Lech Wałęsa. Encyclopedia Britannica provides the historical details:
“During a growing wave of new strikes in 1980 protesting rising food prices, Gdańsk became a hotbed of resistance to government decrees. Some 17,000 workers at the Lenin Shipyards there staged a strike and barricaded themselves within the plant under the leadership of Lech Wałęsa, an electrician by trade. In mid-August 1980 an Interfactory Strike Committee was established in Gdańsk to coordinate rapidly spreading strikes there and elsewhere; within a week it presented the Polish government with a list of demands that were based largely on KOR’s Charter of Workers’ Rights. On August 31, accords reached between the government and the Gdańsk strikers sanctioned free and independent unions with the right to strike, together with greater freedom of religious and political expression.” [3]
This led to further repression by Communist authorities but Solidarity kept up the pressure continuously through 1988 with more demonstrations and strikes. By April 1989, the government succumbed, legalizing Solidarity and allowing it to participate in free elections. This naturally led to the election in 1990 of Wałęsa as President of Poland, gradually ending the country’s decades-long political lockdown.
The playbook of fascists and totalitarians throughout history is remarkably consistent, with variations only in the details. This is why knowledge of history is so vital to recognizing patterns playing out in the present. As the historians Will and Ariel Durant said: “…known history shows little alteration in the conduct of mankind.” [4] During the wave of anti-Communist demonstrations that swept Europe in 1968, government infiltrators in Poland posing as “workers” staged counter demonstrations against what were dubbed “hooligans” and “troublemakers.” [5] Substitute terms like “minority fringe group,” “anti-vaxxers,” or “anti-maskers,” and you’re basically reading from the same script. As I write in my forthcoming book, Words from the Dead: Relevant Readings in the Covid Age, it’s now common knowledge that the governments of Germany, England and Canada colluded with military psy-ops experts on the best methods of instilling fear and compliance in the population. But even that malevolent game is falling apart, as evident by the rapid shift in Trudeau’s handlers from “the prime minister was exposed to Covid-19 and is taking sick leave although he has no symptoms,” to “the prime minister and his family have been moved to a secure location due to security concerns,” conveniently just as the truckers’ convoy arrives in Ottawa.
As I write in Words from the Dead, the real journalism is coming from the very fringes Trudeau derides—the independent bloggers and investigative journalists like Whitney Webb, James Corbett, Sharyl Atkisson, John C.A. Manley, Corey Morningstar and Julius Ruechel, to name only a few; and webcasting TV programs like Joe Rogan and Del Bigtree. If it weren’t for Rebel Media in Canada, our shame in the media would be total. Aside from them, only the Toronto Sun had the courage to tell it like it is: “The media in this country is not acting as a neutral observer and conduit for news on this matter; most have decided the trucker convoy is the enemy and are treating it as such.” [6] Nor have Canada’s authors been much help. The Writers’ Union of Canada refuses to utter a word about the rampant censorship of journalists and repression of basic civil liberties. So much for Canadian writers as the bastions of freedom of speech! And among civil liberties advocacy groups, few besides the Ontario Civil Liberties Association have taken any active role in opposing the shredding of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The “We are the Fringe” Twitter thread has posts from witnesses on Parliament Hill observing the crowd: Traditional Canadian Girl writes: “Where is Justin Trudeau? The fringe would like to speak to you. Be a leader. The world is watching,” a call echoed by prominent psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson. Dr. M. Schoffro Cook added: “I went to Parliament Hill tonight for #FreedomConvoy2022—one of the best experiences of my life. First Nations, black, white, French, English, young, old, truckers, farmers, professionals, we were all there united for freedom, smiling again, saying hi, cheering—strangers united.”
Solidarity!
2. Truckers’ Convoys Go Viral—Global
To use the old expression, the Polish Solidarity strikes were “the shot heard round the world,” just as the Canadian truckers’ convoy is now resounding around the world. There are now similar convoys being organized all over the world, including Australia, the nation that has most shocked us with its violent police state repression. As reported by Rebel News: “Australian truck drivers are planning a ‘Convoy to Canberra’ to protest Australia’s vaccine mandates and harsh restrictions forced upon communities across the country throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.” [7]No word yet on the size of the convoy but it’s clear this movement is catching on like an outback brushfire.
And now, inspired by their Canadian brothers and sisters, American truckers are staging a convoy from California to Washington. [8] Many American truckers joined the Canadian convoy in solidarity. Some truckers provided timely warnings not to allow the convoy to be co-opted by agents provocateurs such as Antifa, citing the staged “coup” on Washington’s Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021. “Let’s keep this peaceful” has been the majority voice during Canada’s historic trek to Ottawa. One writer whose post seems to have disappeared from the Twitter thread “We are the Fringe” warned: “Do not enter any federal government buildings even if invited,” since even that could be an excuse for authorities to clamp down. As American convoy organizer Brian Von D. explained:
“We’re done with the mandates, were done with the government telling us what to do, we will continue and we will follow just like the rest of the world on these trucker protests, and they will be 100 percent legal, they will abide by the law.”
The Off-Guardian reports that there are already convoys planned for Europe: “Copycat convoys are already emerging, with an EU wide freedom convoy in the works to descend on Belgium in February. The plan involves convoys from a dozen or more EU nations driving to their own capital, before converging at the seat of the EU parliament. The telegram group set up to organize it already has 15,000 members.” [9]
3. Think Global, Act Local
Although this environmental slogan has grown a bit dog-eared with time, it still holds true in many respects. It’s the thousands of protests, free speech rallies and fundraisers in small communities all over the world—each one like raindrops in a river—that create an overwhelming flood manifesting the common will. In the West Kootenay, a large rally was held in Nelson to express solidarity with the truckers’ convoy. In Nakusp, a fundraising barbecue was held to raise money for Shaun Patterson, who joined the convoy to Ottawa. (I wrote about Patterson in my Substack article, ‘Kootenay Residents Join Worldwide Freedom Rallies.’) [10] However, in the ensuing confusion over the GoFundMe funds raised to support the truckers and how it will be dispersed, ordinary citizens joining the convoy appear to have been left out. Some like Patterson are running out of funds.
Again, the mood was one of celebration. At its peak, the barbecue event—which featured music, speeches and poetry—had at least 100 people in this small village of about 1200. Added to that was an improvised ‘convoy’ of locals driving large pickup trucks draped in flags and signs expressing solidarity with the Ottawa convoy. Full disclosure: I helped organize the event with Crystal Lucas and we raised over $1,200 for the cause. And in a contrast that couldn’t be more stark, only two—count ’em, TWO—protestors stood opposite us with signs reading: “Take UR medicine” and “90% are okay with it.” Clearly this pair was mathematically challenged, given that they were now the “fringe minority” in town. Tellingly, there was zero police presence. A substantial number of RCMP officers have registered their disapproval of the vaccine mandates in a letter to RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki: [11]
“We are not against vaccinations, but as law enforcement officers, we cannot in good conscience willingly participate in enforcing mandates that we believe go against the best interests of the people we protect.”
This is in addition to groups such as Police On Guard for Thee, composed of retired and active duty police officers from provincial and municipal forces with similar concerns.
We were given a blessing by Jayden, a.k.a. Medicine Bear, a First Nations jeweller and resident of Nakusp, who acknowledged that we are on traditional Sinixt territory. Crystal spoke about developments around the world and I performed my poem, “The Day After Covid,” [12] which seemed appropriate to this turnkey moment in history. Gratitude must be offered to all those who came out and so generously donated, as well as to David, Byron and Stephanie of Mountain Top Coffee, who allowed us to use their yard for the barbecue and kept up the flow of first-rate espresso and tea. (David also has great potential as a singer.) As with the Ottawa convergence of truckers and their supporters, all was peaceful, if a little noisy and boisterous at times.
If one thing is clear from the historic Truckers’ Convoy to Ottawa, it’s this: The tide is turning! This will be the moment that will go down in history as the week people took back their personal sovereignty after nearly two years of constant psychological torture, risky gene-therapy injections, restrictions on our movements and soul-destroying lockdowns. What’s curious is that it wasn’t accomplished by well-reasoned arguments, a flood of studies proving the harms of lockdowns (there have been plenty of those), or any such high level, rational approaches. It came straight from the hearts and guts of working class Canadians, and today we stood in solidarity with them. A new day dawns!
REFERENCES:
[1] “UPDATED: The Canadian Trucker Convoy,” Off-Guardian, January 29, 2022: “The Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) wants everyone to know that only a “very small minority” of Canada’s truckers are taking part, and that “experts” maintain the protest is ‘illogical.’” https://off-guardian.org/2022/01/28/discuss-the-canadian-trucker-convoy/
[2]
[3] “Solidarity: Polish union,” Encyclopedia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Solidarity
[4] The Lessons of History, Will and Ariel Durant, Simon & Schuster, New York (et al), 1968 (1996 reprint), p. 34 (emphasis mine).
[5] “Poland’s Solidarity Movement (1980-1989),” Maciej Bartkowski, International Center on Nonviolent Conflict, December 2009: https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/polands-solidarity-movement-1980-1989/
[6] “Media's handling of trucker convoy one-sided, inflammatory, shameful,” Brian Lilley, Toronto Sun, January 28, 2022: https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/lilley-medias-handling-of-trucker-convoy-one-sided-inflammatory-shameful?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1643411904
[7] “Australian truck drivers join the convoy for freedom,” Avi Yemini, Rebel News, January 28, 2022: https://www.rebelnews.com/australian_truck_drivers_join_the_convoy_for_freedom
[8] “‘Government Overreach Is Coming to an End’: Massive Truck Convoy Heading to Washington After Ottawa,” Enrico Trigoso, The Epoch Times, January 28, 2022: https://www.theepochtimes.com/government-overreach-is-coming-to-an-end-massive-truck-convoy-heading-to-washington-after-ottawa_4242750.html?utm_source=BN_article_paid&utm_campaign=breaking_2022-01-28-1_ca&utm_medium=email&est=yD4a9QbQAiqmbmGtcz%2BKXgLg3SFOnaJUMdWNcnJnOdwWxiT2ym9yk8RhVaQ7F0SviOg%3D
[9] “UPDATED: The Canadian Trucker Convoy,” Off-Guardian, January 29, 2022: “The Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) wants everyone to know that only a “very small minority” of Canada’s truckers are taking part, and that “experts” maintain the protest is ‘illogical.’” https://off-guardian.org/2022/01/28/discuss-the-canadian-trucker-convoy/
[10] “Kootenay Residents Join Worldwide Freedom Rallies,” Sean Arthur Joyce, Substack, January 23, 2022:
[11] “Open Letter to RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki,” Mounties for Freedom, October 21, 2021: https://mounties4freedom.ca/open-letter/
[12] From the collection, Diary of a Pandemic Year, Chameleonfire Editions, 2021:
https://www.seanarthurjoyce.ca