Globalisation: It's for idiots
©Linda Dawn Hammond 2001

Cotê d'Abraham & Richelieu. The street opened to reveal a plaza filled with crowds of colourful and noisy protesters. They were facing off against a silent battalion of riot squad officers, positioned behind a long stretch of fence.

Protester smarter than most- he brought a mask!
©Linda Dawn Hammond 2001

Riot Squad Guard Barricade
©Linda Dawn Hammond 2001

At the Wall©Linda Dawn Hammond 2001

We somehow managed to encounter fellow Greens from Toronto among the thousands of protesters. Clusters of political interest groups such as the Council of Canadians were also there, along with some union representatives and the Red Cross medics. One of the COC guys looked suspiciously at ME when I asked to take his photo, agreed, but then kept hiding his face with his gas mask. He finally noticed my expression and then said, 'Well, I suppose THEY'VE already got it anyway. So go ahead.' He's only standing there holding the biggest banner in sight proclaiming his CoC affiliation, being interviewed in the middle of a teargassing by a syndicate media type (the other reporter, not me). Hmmm... It's absurd that the mainstream media and the RIGHT chose to pin the blame for this violent demonstration on Maude Barlow and her group rather than the police and elected officials. Most of the younger demonstrators I talked to had never even heard of the Council of Canadians until recently, if at all. But they had heard of NAFTA and GATS and the WTO and GMOs and Monsanto. We would have all been there anyway. There was no leadership. Must be disconcerting to some!

Council of Canadians©Linda Dawn Hammond 2001

The other side of the fence©Linda Dawn Hammond 2001

The crowd was largely young, many experiencing a first taste of the kind of violence which can be perpetrated by your own elected government, one intent on silencing and ignoring them. The straight media chose to concentrate on the more disruptive and violent elements in the group, also overlooking the peaceful majority who provided a less tantalizing soundbite. I know this problem as a photographer. You may even be asking yourself at this very moment, sure, very nice, but where are her pictures of the rioting BLACK BLOK??? (Coming to your station at a later page!) I heard some of the 'corporate media' with back-stage passes complaining loudly to anyone who would listen. They had been promised gas masks upon request from the RCMP, who were now refusing to comply. Media who did bring their own gas masks were later subject to the same process of confiscation and fines as the rest of the protesters.

Burning Flag
©Linda Dawn Hammond 2001

The burning flag you want to see!

Earlier that morning while walking over to the protest, I'd bumped in to a group of Cegep students (late high school age group) and we'd discussed their motives in coming. They were optimistically preparing protest signs in a park- didn't want to get caught in the middle of the action without them. An angelic faced girl with bleached hair told me that she was afraid of being arrested as she was leaving for Peru shortly, to volunteer for an NGO. She said that she didn't really expect to achieve anything concrete in Peru which would change their lives- but rather that the experience would transform her own- she would learn more from them. She added somewhat wistfully that she had only just reached voting age. I don't see her voting for Chretien, or the Alliance for that matter. Perhaps they should be considering this as they formulate their policies without her consent. A young male, sturdy and clean cut, spoke of potential compromises he might have to make at a future date, as he was going into Physics. Could he reconcile his environmental concerns with a career in science and maintain his ideals. He was hopeful he could- I, less so. Result of age difference? Possibly, but probably not. I've always been a cynical idealist!

Our Voice Will BE Heard!
©Linda Dawn Hammond 2001

I thought of them often as the day's events progressed- they were everywhere and everyone. Some approached the metal fence, clinging to it with hands outstretched in gestures of peace reminiscent of the 60s. They gazed through the chain link at their armed adversaries and waited passively for the inevitable volleys of gas in the face. They linked arms in solidarity and fell to their knees in rows, holding signs with such poignant messages as, "Our voice will be heard." But who was responding on the other side? Only gas canisters. Where I was at this time, there were no stone throwers or even people 'returning' the canisters of gas to their former owners. Many tried hard to engage the police in debates over the issue of freedom while a few courageously risked placing banners on the barricade itself. It was impossible to understand the need to gas people who were only exercising their constitutional right to dissent and were engaged in non-provocative actions. This was a democracy? Their sense of injustice was palpable. One girl of about 17 was overheard saying to her friend as she emerged scalded from a gas attack, 'How can these guys go home to their wives and children at night after they do this to me and not feel guilty- I could be their daughter.' (And I was thinking, that THEY could be my son in another couple of years. Not much older really.) I almost cried for them.

Girl recovering from gas©Linda Dawn Hammond 2001

Injured Protester Joe Heckraiser©Linda Dawn Hammond 2001

Joe Heckraiser's Report

These Guys Were Everywhere!©Linda Dawn Hammond 2001

The gas was also projected into crowds watching from a distance and medics circulated about treating the injured with malox mixtures. We were becoming envious of those smart enough to come equipped with gas masks themselves. I've added two to next year's Christmas wish list-- one for me, the other for my 15 year old son. Infinitely more practical a gift than a video game and it may even become a status item in the kind of society we're creating. Just add a LOGO to it... the BIG McGAS! Speaking of gas, maybe I DID inhale too much!

Medics assist teargas victims©Linda Dawn Hammond 2001

Teargassed- Raphaël(L) and Greens April 19
©Linda Dawn Hammond 2001

Rapha‘l was the first in our Green group to be injured. Tears streamed from his eyes as he retreated half blind from the scene. Another Green went down. As I witnessed their pain, I regretted having taken the chance of wearing contact lenses and then made the mistake of trying to take them out on the spot. (Yes I know- I shouldnt have been wearing them.) Up to this point my swim goggles had served me well, but my own gas contaminated fingers removed the first one from my eyes, with the inevitable searing results! I'd been actually better off before. Now I was in pain and virtually blind in one eye, stumbling about completely disoriented.

View from Above©Linda Dawn Hammond 2001

Some supportive Quebec City residents watching from their balcony were kind enough to let me in to their home to wash my hands and remove the other lens. I photographed the crowd from their vantage point. At least, my camera did. I shot two days of protests unable to see what was in front of me. Between the tear gas and my fogged up goggles, I had to aim in what I thought was the right direction, preset the distance, hope my shutter speed held up, and try not to stumble directly into the arms of the riot squad. I actually did on more than one occasion. I'd approach what I knew to be their line and lift up my goggles briefly, to gain some perspective on where I was in relation to them. Oh yes- there they are, two feet away! Hope they don't launch a tear gas canister at me from this distance. They DO like to aim at bodies. Wonder what they're thinking. Are they? Do they believe I'm really a photojournalist?
Sometimes having bright red hair and a chain mail jacket can be problematic.

SQ Making Arrest
(See PUNK OKA page for same protesters directly before arrest!)
The cop in front said to me- GO AWAY! Bit too close. Taken with a 40mm lens.
©Linda Dawn Hammond 2001

Elsewhere that day...
Web videos at the Toronto Video Activist Collective 'Together we can do it' 1 meg, 1:44 mins

Continue to
PUNK OKA!

Masked Avengers©Linda Dawn Hammond 2001