Confronting Fascists at Christie Pitts
Blueprints of Disruption · Rabble Rousers' Cooperative
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Show Notes
Things are heating up at Christie Pitts, 92 years after the famous riot there.
In the first half of this episode, John Clarke and host Jessa McLean talk about the Swastika clubs that sprung up in Toronto back in 1933, how they were emboldened by the rise of Hitler and the Nazis, as well as legitimized, even encouraged by the establishment here in Canada. These clubs, furthering white supremacist ideology, attacking Jewish community members were allowed to roam around the City until the community decided they had had enough.
In the second half, Catherine Crockett of the General Defence Committee for the IWW reminisces on the 'lovely riot' of 1933, its long term impact on the community. They'll also share some of the details around the planned anti-immigration rally and what organizers of the counter protest planned for this Saturday, September 13th hope to see happen.
Call to Action: Register to Attend Community Rally
Related Episodes:
- Making Mass Actions Count, John Clarke, Professor at York University and longtime organizer, compares the 2022 strike by CUPE workers to the 1995 Days of Action against then Premier Mike Harris.
- Nationalism and the Working Class, Chris Fairweather, academic, activist and labour organizer, talks about the pervasiveness of nationalism and the impact is has on the working class.
More Resources:
- Cable Street 88 years on: battling fascists then and now | Morning Star
- More on the General Defence Committee for the IWW
- The Riot at Cristie Pits (Full Movie)
- The Christie Pits Riot: The Worst Anti-Semitic Riot in Canada (Short Video)
- Toronto Today: Locals Organize Counter Protest to Oppose Racists
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