June 2006

Freedom Caravan and Camp Hope

Report By Jo Wood

Multiple Raging Granny groups were involved in the Freedom Caravan and Camp  Hope, two aspects of the Campaign to Stop Secret Trials.  These events coincided with the Supreme Court Hearings on the constitutionality of "Security Certificates," that have placed 5 Muslim men under threat of deportation to torture without knowing the evidence against them.
 
The Freedom Caravan spent a week from June 3 to June 10, traveling slowly from Toronto to Ottawa to spread the word about the Supreme Court case on Security Certificates.  Peterborough Grannies were on hand to welcome the participants and sing some great songs against secret trials and the loss of human rights involved.  Then the Limestone Grannies participated in the Caravan when it attempted to visit "Guantanamo North," the new holding facility for those under deportation threat.
 
The Ottawa Grans took on major supporting role for Camp Hope.  Camp Hope from June 10 to June 15 focused on the lawn of the Supreme Court.  It successfully made use of media interest in the Supreme Court hearings to expose the injustice of Security Certificates. 

Along with other Ottawa groups, the Ottawa mob helped feed those from the Caravan and others, particularly the families of the detained men.  We prepared all the food one night and many of us helped with the food throughout the week.  We also participated in the vigil in front of the Supreme Court every morning from 9 to noon while it was in session.
 
In general, media coverage of our activities was positive and there was a lot of interest.  In addition, we spoke to many people in the streets.  The most common reaction from people we talked to was "Secret trials in Canada?  No way!  We don't do that here."  Too often, our message only reaches the converted and those who are already aware of the issues.  The Caravan and Camp Hope broke through to a wider base, planted seeds and won supporters.  Grannies were a visible part of this important action.

Photo of Jo and Ria and text of the Camp Hope flyer

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Jo's journal notes - Freedom Caravan

The Freedom Caravan is on its slow, winding way from Toronto to Ottawa to spread the word about the Supreme Court case on Security Certificates.  I participated in the caravan from its beginning on a rainy Saturday until Tuesday when I had to return to Ottawa.  My heart remains with them.

The Caravan slowly made its way through communities in West Toronto, stopping at malls and MP constituency offices as we went.  By lunch time, we had only reached Scarborough.  Our first night was spent in Ajax at a church just down the road from the Ajax-Pickering detention centre where the young Muslim men picked up in a sweep the night before were being held.  Some Caravan members went to the detention centre that evening, but all was so quiet (no machine-guns to be seen) that they were convinced the prisoners had already been moved (the police in the detention centre said we should “listen to the radio” to find out where they were.)  The next day, we learned they had actually been there.


After the leafleting I have done in Ottawa, I was really impressed by the reception we received in the small communities.  Certainly we were a novelty.  People wanted to know what we were doing.  They took our leaflets, often reading them on the spot or engaging in conversation with us.  Local media would also cover the fact that we were there, taking pictures and interviewing Caravan members, so that we reached a wider audience.

There were, of course, some angry shouts from vehicles about “send them all back”, etc.  We had expected a lot of that due to the sensational and irresponsible press coverage of the “home-grown terrorists”.  (The Toronto Star even published pictures of the homes of all those arrested who were not young offenders.)  But, we had many more honks of support from the passing cars.

Our most common reaction from people we talked to was “Secret trials in Canada?  No way!  We don’t do that here.”  I think the Caravan is doing a great service by getting out into the small towns and raising these issues.  Too often, our message only reaches the converted and those who are already aware of the issues.  The Caravan broke through to a wider base, planted seeds and won supporters.

Evenings we would have wonderful meals prepared in churches and then an evening program.  In Peterborough, we had dinner at St. Paul’s Presbyterian church, where the Raging Grannies sang some great songs (They are a fantastic group.  I think there were 12 of them there and I was invited to join them in singing which of course I did.)  There was also a great skit, first performed 2 years ago against the security certificates and still relevant today.  After that came our part in the program.  A number of caravaners shared briefly why we were there.  I, of course, would talk about Mohamed Harket, the conditions he has been enduring, how much it means to have people’s support.  Then Matthew Behrens would give a longer talk which was really inspiring.  

On Friday night, the Caravan is staying in Smith Falls and then winding its way through small communities into Ottawa.  I plan to drive out Saturday morning and accompany them on the last leg of the journey.