Grandmothers Are on the Move

"To be accused of speaking too loudly about one injustice but not others by someone who doesn't care about any of them is to be told, simply, to keep quiet."

― Omar El Akkad, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This

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Gaza has disappeared from the news. Israel’s rocket war with Iran has garnered the world’s attention. And yet, I woke up to the news that 60 starving Palestinians were murdered as they tried to get food from Israeli food "distribution" centres.

The day before, 25 were murdered — the day before that, 17.

These brutal killings are made possible because Israel knows that Western leaders are going to do little to oppose it. And so the genocide and the forced dislocation of two million people continues unimpeded.

But then I met Kathy.

I met her at a busy intersection in Ottawa, where she showed up with some homemade signs calling for Canadians to speak up against the genocide.

The first thing she told me was that she had been sick to her stomach as she thought of the forced hunger being inflicted on two million people.

She didn't know what to do. And then she heard about grandmothers gathering in Ottawa to speak up against the genocide.

"Even if our leaders sit on the sidelines, I am not going to be silent,” she told me.

This was my introduction to the second weekly gathering of the Grandmothers Against Genocide Ottawa chapter.

Over the last number of weeks, I have met many like Kathy on various busy roadways and streets as ordinary people step forward to speak out against genocide and starvation.

What is the impact of these silent roadside vigils? Some people honk. One or two give the finger. Others come over with tears in their eyes to thank the grandmothers.

Most drive-by — busy people with busy days ahead of them.

What do these gestures mean in the big scheme of things? Maybe not a lot. But when our leaders abandon their duty, when the media turn away, when international NGOs and doctors are murdered for trying to help, then it falls to ordinary people.

It falls to the grandmothers.

When this genocide is remembered, none of us will be able to say we didn't know.

I choose to stand with those who are speaking up.

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Ongoing Public Vigils

Grandmothers Against Genocide — Every Wednesday 8:00 AM — Bay/Bloor (TORONTO, ON)

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Grandmothers Against Genocide — Every Wednesday 11 AM — George's Square, Wyndham & Quebec Streets (GUELPH, ON)

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Grandmothers Against Genocide — Every Thursday 8:00 AM — Five Points Intersection (GODERICH, ON)

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Grandmothers Against Genocide — This group met for the first time on June 13th in front of Town Hall — OAKVILLE, ON — Plans are to make this a weekly event though not necessarily on the same day. We will share updates when available.

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Grandads Against Genocide — Every Wednesday 8 AM — Corner of Richmond and Central (LONDON, ON)

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Grandparents Against Genocide — Every Monday 3 PM — St Clair W & Avenue Rd (TORONTO, ON)

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Baseline Rd Vigil — Every Thursday 8:00 AM — Baseline Rd at Vincent Massey Park (OTTAWA, ON)

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Kingston Rd Vigil — Every Thursday 8:00 AM — Kingston Rd/Victoria Park (TORONTO, ON)

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Vigil for Gaza — Every Tuesday 10 AM — Haliburton County Farmer’s Market (HALIBURTON, ON)

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Vigil / Rally — Every Saturday 10 AM — Giche-name-wiikwedong Bridge on Hwy 6 (OWEN SOUND, ON)

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Walk with Grief Vigil — Every Saturday 11 AM — Meet at Kitchener Market (KITCHENER, ON)

Vigil / Rally — Every Saturday 10 AM — Meet in front of Town Hall (COLLINGWOOD, ON)

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If you're interested in organizing in your community, please don't hesitate to contact my team. We can help you get started.

If you have an event planned, share the details — we’d be happy to help promote it.

Email info@charlieangus.ca

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