Tamils in Canada mark Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day tamilguardian.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from tamilguardian.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
On Mother’s Day, a reminder that non-western feminisms are still invisible in global media
Everyday acts of resistance by racialised women do not get the same spotlight as western feminist campaigns. May 09, 2021 · 09:30 pm Tamil demonstrators protest the Sri Lankan civil war at Queens Park, in Toronto, in May 2009. | Mark Blinch / Reuters
On Mother’s Day in 2009 in Canada, over 2,000 Tamil protesters stepped onto Toronto’s Gardiner Expressway, chanting “no more genocide”, blocking every lane of the highway, bringing traffic to a standstill.
When news broke, Toronto Tamils took to the streets to demand justice after months of peaceful protests, hunger strikes and rallies across the city. The Gardiner protest was a pivotal moment for Toronto Tamils, in terms of both shaping their political identity, and recognising the strength of community mobilisation.
On Mother’s Day in 2009, over 2,000 Tamil protesters stepped onto Toronto’s Gardiner Expressway, chanting “no more genocide,” blocking every lane of the highway, bringing traffic to a standstill.
When news broke, Toronto Tamils took to the streets to demand justice after months of peaceful protests, hunger strikes and rallies across the city. The Gardiner protest was a pivotal moment for Toronto Tamils, in terms of both shaping their political identity, and recognizing the strength of community mobilization.
Tamil women formed the front lines of this protest and deliberately chose this role to de-escalate any potential conflicts between other protesters and the police. Tamil women have been active leaders and participants in resistance movements, both in Canada and Sri Lanka. This is work that has been happening for decades.