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The Fathers Day Coalition for Peace in conjunction with Homes not Bombs Ontario, stages a yearly protest against the air show in Hamilton.
The air show or war show is one of the largest displays of military warplanes in North America and little more than a trade show (publicly-subsidized) for the U.S. Military-industrial complex.
For the children the war show has Kiddie Commando, which dresses up 3- and 4-year-olds in camouflage and war paint, and runs them through a military obstacle course as real soldiers shoot water pistols at them.
Though this is a two-day demonstration, the local paper and TV station won't cover it. They are war show sponsors. The city is also involved, granting 700,000 dollars in subsidies to the show since the mid nineties, and that is really money being taken from social programs.
Media attention at the demo comes mainly from police as they videotape everything. If you want to be a movie star but haven't been able to make it, this is the place to be.
One scene the police shot today was me walking across the street toward the camera. A person assisted me in cutting a banner down with a thumbnail knife, which caused the police to announce that the tiny knife was a dangerous weapon. And these are the same cops who earlier said that war planes are not really weapons.
Near the end we all gathered in a circle and held hands. The police smirked and laughed, thinking that to be hilarious. But aside from the police, this was a colorful demo with creative banners, puppets and costumes. The nicest touch came from the Food not Bombs soldiers marching up and down the road and saluting. Their uniforms with helmets made of melons and bullet belts of peanuts gave them that special look of authority. These soldiers know that peace is organic, and want to get in touch with the green earth.
Homes not Bombs will be staging an anti-Star Wars demo November 9 at the DREO facility in Ottawa. This will be in conjunction with protests against the WTO meeting in Qatar.
contact:
hasc@tao.ca or
tasc@web.net.
Send your comments and stories of police brutality to: ruitsdawtah@Hotmail.com
This page created June 20, 2001
