Resistance Without Borders
"Geography has made us neighbors. History has made us friends. Economics has made us partners. And necessity has made us allies. Those whom nature hath so joined together, let no man put asunder."
— John F. Kennedy, speaking to the Canadian Parliament, May 17, 1961
A little over a year ago, I was in the border town of Windsor with my colleague MP Brian Masse. He took me on a tour of Detroit’s rejuvenated downtown. It had been decades since I had been in Motor City, and I was astounded by the revival.
Crossing the border was little more than a friendly wave. We went for burgers, checked out the new Tiger Stadium and then headed back over the Canadian line without a second thought.
Those days are gone.
Under Trump, the border, once regarded as more of a picket fence between neighbours, has become a line of division, potential conflict and stress for anyone worried about guards seizing their phones or laptops.
But the border can't stop grassroots organizing and outreach as people on both sides find ways to resist tyranny.
I am amazed at how the work of Charlie Angus / The Resistance here on the Canadian side is resonating south of the border.
Here are a few examples:
📸 Hands Off and 50501 Protests
If someone had told me a month ago that my name would be on protest signs in Phoenix, Arizona, and Norfolk, Virginia, I wouldn’t have believed them.
But the message is clear: Together, we are building a resistance without borders.
Tennessee Brando is a voice of resistance from (you guessed it) Tennessee. This week, he featured my recent comments about standing up to Trump. Brando speaks to the growing frustration in the U.S. over politicians' failure to call out fascism — and he’s reaching out directly to Canadians.
I was quoted calling Trump a “narcissistic malignant slug” — a line that captured the mood of many Canadians. That comment was picked up by Yahoo and MSN and touched a nerve about how his actions are uniting Canadians in ways we never imagined.
And, of course, the team at MeidasTouch continues to amplify the Resistance Tour and the Elbows Up movement happening in Canada. Their platform is helping connect our stories and voices across the continent.
We were once told that geography makes us neighbours and history makes us friends. But today, it’s our shared fight for democracy that unites us as allies. When one side of the border stands up, the other hears the call.
This isn’t just solidarity — it’s resistance without borders. And it’s only the beginning.
Elbows up.
I believe sometimes we close a door only to have a new one flung open. If you had run for re-election, you couldn't do this very important work. And I think you're exactly where you need to be, Charlie - doing the work that you were meant to do. Let's face it, as an MP, you would have been limited, now you have no limit. This is a grassroots, bone-deep movement to legitimize our Canadian identity. To pare off the decades of "like American, only not". To urge Canadians to learn about their country. To support their country, its artisans, manufacturers, talent... To discover the beautiful places we have to visit. You're showing Canadians what makes us unique and strengthening the bond we have with this land and its people. It's no small wonder that the Americans who support you (and let's face it, not all will) understand the importance of what you are fighting for and the ramifications if you lose. Inspiring them to also speak up against autocracy is a gift. Thank you for your courage.
“Sometimes, you find the right person at the wrong time.
Sometimes it's the wrong person at the right time. But when you find the right person, at the right time, it's because it’s meant to be.” Thank you Charlie Angus. Right person - right time. 🇨🇦🇺🇸