Ontario unions organize to disrupt parents' march

Ontario unions are organizing to take urgent action against the planned parental rights protest March on September 20.   

Unions plan disruption, counter-protests against Wednesday parents march | Western Standard | Lee Harding:

September 15, 2023 - "The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) is strategizing on how to counteract the million-person march Wednesday. On September 11, OFL President Patty Coates sent an email to the OFL executive board, executive council, union heads, committees, coalitions, and community partners. Its notice read, 'Urgent Action Required: Rapid Response to September 20th Canada-Wide (anti-sexual minority) Protests.' 

"The email warned, 'the ultra-conservative right have planned nationwide events to protest teaching (sexual minority) content in schools under the guise of protecting children.' Although the rallying cry is entitled, 'A day to unite all religions in the defence of children against (sexual minority) indoctrination in Canadian schools,' Coates took a different view. 'We know that far from protecting students this will hurt them in so many ways,' she wrote. 'In this time of unprecedented hate and emboldened anger against so many people, it is time now, more than ever, for labour to show up as allies to protect targets of hate and bigotry wherever they may be.'

"The email said the one million person march protests were planned for Toronto, Hamilton, Burlington, Kitchener, Niagara Falls, London, Windsor, Orangeville, Barrie, Sudbury, Whitby, Ottawa and 'the list keeps on growing.'

"'We must make our voices louder and the message heard that there is no place for hate in our province,' Coates wrote. 'The OFL encourages all leaders/heads of unions to join with labour councils and community groups to organize workers and communities to form rapid response teams who can show up on the 20th at the locations listed and counter this rhetoric and these lies'.... Coates invited recipients to join her at a strategy meeting on the morning of Friday September 15 to 'draft a system to ensure that no city in Ontario where an event is planned is left unchallenged. Let’s work to broadcast the message that no groups will be left alone'....

"The million person march is the initiative of Muslim activist Kamel El-Cheikh. Hundreds of Muslim parents gathered in Ottawa June 9 and 13 to protest sexual minority education in schools. In September, Prime Minister Trudeau told an audience at a mosque in Calgary that 'people on social media, particularly fueled by the American right wing' were stirring up such protests."
Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/news/unions-plan-disruption-counter-protests-against-wednesday-parents-march/article_e7bc4f94-532f-11ee-90a3-a37360a254ec.html

Unions declare war on parental rights protest | True North | September 18, 2023:

Hamilton union leader says members will follow parental rights protestors | Western Standard | Jonathan Bradley 

September 18, 2023 - "Hamilton and District Labour Council (HDLC) President Anthony Marco said when protestors gather in a parking lot to participate in the One Million March for Children, it 'has got a couple seasoned activists who are willing to go over and take some pictures of licence plates'.... He said these HDLC members will be showing parental rights protestors they 'know they are being watched, that they are not doing this in secret, that people are noticing what they’re up to'.... As a person, he said it is not an action he plans on doing or has ever done....

"The Canadian Anti-Hate Network (CAHN) blasted the One Million March on Friday for wanting to stop sexual minority topics from being discussed in schools. The CAHN said these protests are supported by far-right and conspiratorial groups, including Christian nationalists, COVID-19 conspiracy theorists, sovereigntists and anti-public education activists. It said there are at least two brands involved in the One Million March. Hands Off Our Kids and Family Loves Freedom are organizing under #1MillionMarch4Children. 
Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/news/updated-hamilton-union-leader-says-members-will-follow-parental-rights-protestors/article_8e9c3d92-5641-11ee-badb-8fc07ec92968.html