Roughly 150 people rallied at Duncan City Square on the evening of Sept. 20 as part of a global day of action. The ‘Draw the Line’ movement calls out wealth hoarding by Canada’s largest corporations, the gutting of public services, the climate crisis and ongoing injustices in the Cowichan Valley.
“Holding decision-makers accountable to the strong social and environmental values that join us together as a community is more important than ever," said One Cowichan's Jane Kilthei. "Our democracy locally is at risk. In response we can come together and work with each other to make our collective voices more powerful, our community more sustainable, and ensure no one is left behind.”
The Duncan rally was one of more than 70 across Canada that took part in Draw the Line. About 10 organizations and community groups gathered in solidarity against exclusionary politics, regressive climate policies and violence toward marginalized communities in the Cowichan Valley. The rally featured music and information tables creating opportunities for coalition building and community engagement.
“Fascism is rising across the globe and Canada is no exception," said Revolve Cowichan's Erin Blondeau. "The rise in far-right politics brings the oppression of people who don’t fit into the ideal hierarchy. We have to stand up against the ultrawealthy and powerful who want to pit us against each other so they can continue to profit from our suffering. We have to draw the line and resist this mass manipulation and oppression.”
Groups involved included Revolve Cowichan, Cowichan Climate Hub, One Cowichan, Freedom From War Coalition, Nature Cowichan, The Cowichan Land Trust, Friends of Rails to Trails, Socially Responsible Investing Cowichan, the Mid-Island Council of Canadians.
Local and global issues took the stage with speakers addressing a diverse range of pressing local concerns, including what they said were: "Regressive moves by North Cowichan council, where several councillors deny anthropogenic climate change and have voted to reverse progressive climate policies," and "the municipality's decision to log the Six Mountains, undermining relationships with Cowichan Tribes," as well as "political and physical violence directed toward the region's unhoused community," and "scapegoating of transgender people, immigrants, Indigenous peoples, and disabled people."
