Latest news with #politicalactivism
CBC
3 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
G7 leaders release 6 joint statements, addressing wildfires, AI, critical minerals
Hi, I'm Joel Dryden, a reporter for CBC News based in Calgary, covering the local impacts of the G7 summit. Protests continue today at Calgary's city hall, mostly against the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the summit. The biggest demonstration we saw was on Sunday, when hundreds gathered at city hall and then marched through downtown Calgary. Crowds were notably smaller than they were in 2002, the last time the summit was held in the region. Roberta Lexier, a historian of progressive social movements at Mount Royal University in Calgary, told me this likely reflects the increasing difficulty of organizing public protests due to heightened security over the years, especially around global summits. Still, one demonstrator told me they saw Sunday's protest as an energizing show of solidarity — and one that challenged the idea that Alberta lacks political activism. 'This weekend really showed that people in Calgary are awake to the political situation,' said Isa Carlin, a member of Migrante Alberta, an organization that advocates for the rights of migrants.
The National
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Inside the campaign to ban pro-Palestine Irish group Kneecap from Glastonbury
English guitarist Johnny Marr, 61, has spoken out in support of Irish hip-hop band Kneecap, following news of a co-ordinated campaign to oust them from this month's Glastonbury Festival. Kneecap have been in the headlines since their performance at the Coachella music festival in April, calling for a free Palestine and proclaiming that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza with US backing. Last month, member Mo Chara was charged with a terror offence by British authorities after he allegedly displayed a Hezbollah flag at a London gig. 'After learning that calls have been made for Kneecap to be censored during their Glastonbury set, I think it's important that I make my own position clear,' Marr, co-founder of The Smiths, said in a message posted on Kneecap's Instagram account on Monday. 'I've played Glastonbury many times, and the festival has always had a political aspect. It was founded as a place of free expression and political activism, and it's a fact that I agreed to play there with The Smiths in 1984 purely because to do so at the time was a political act. 'We are living through very troubling times, but for anyone who's been interested in me or my music over the last 40 years, I feel like my political stance has always been very clear,' Marr added. 'Oppression fears artistic expression. I respect all musicians who use their platform to speak out against injustice, who promote compassion and equality and give voice to the voiceless. I stand with my audience and fellow musicians who call for an immediate end to the atrocities and a free Palestine.' Marr's message comes days after English DJ Toddla T claimed he had seen a 'private and confidential letter' signed by '30 individuals from within the music industry', who have urged Glastonbury organisers to remove Kneecap from the line-up. Glastonbury Festival, one of the world's largest music festival, is set to take place from June 25 to 29. 'What we're seeing is a co-ordinated attempt by 30 members of the musical elite, people with systematic influence, to silence the voices of three working-class artists from Belfast. And all of it was done behind closed doors,' Toddla T, who's also performing at the festival, posted on Instagram. He added that he and 100 others, including English trip-hop group Massive Attack and Northern Irish electronic duo Bicep, have signed a letter in support of Kneecap. 'At the heart of this is not just a dispute over a festival slot. It's about Palestine and the ongoing genocide we're witnessing,' Toddla T added. 'The lives lost, the unbearable images, the children, the parents, the communities being erased, it has pushed many of us to question humanity itself.' Rapping in the Irish language, the three-member Kneecap are known for their politically charged music and lyrics since their formation in 2017. While they have long been critical of Israel, often flying the Palestinian flag at their shows, it was their Coachella set that grabbed headlines around the world. 'The Palestinians have nowhere to go. It's their home, and they're bombing it from the sky. If you're not calling it a genocide, what are you calling it?' said member Moglai Bap on stage, wearing a keffiyeh. He went on to lead the audience in a 'free, free Palestine' chant, as the Palestinian flag was displayed across the screens. The performance led to calls for the group to be banned from performing in the US. Kneecap also split from their booking agency Independent Artist Group soon after. Television celebrity Sharon Osbourne said the group 'took their performance to a different level by incorporating aggressive political statements', and called for a revocation of their US work visa. In response, Kneecap told the BBC: 'Statements aren't aggressive, murdering 20,000 children is, though.'
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Iconic '90s Rocker, 61, Sends a Bold Political Message Amid LA ICE Protests
Iconic '90s Rocker, 61, Sends a Bold Political Message Amid LA ICE Protests originally appeared on Parade. Iconic '90s guitarist —known for playing in rock bands like Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave and The Nightwatchman—sent a bold political message amid the ICE protests in Los Angeles. On Monday, June 9, the musician took to X to share photos and videos from his participation in the ongoing public demonstration. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 In one photo, Morello, 61, held a sign that read "Organize Unite Defend." He wore a black T-shirt with white lettering that said, "Destroy American Fascism" in another shot while posing with other protesters and holding a "Defend LA" poster. For yet another picture, Morello flipped the bird to the camera. The rocker also included a close-up of a shirt that read "Nazi Lives Don't Matter" in a different snap. Meanwhile, Morello explained in a video clip, "We got the cops to turn around and head back because they saw what's coming," as fellow protestors cheered all around him in the streets. The rock star also shared an illustration alongside the bold message, "In the shadow of fear, Los Angeles rises - protecting its people when the system won't." Protests broke out in and around LA on Friday after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested at least 44 people, CNN reported. In the wake of President ordering the deployment of thousands of National Guard troops and hundreds of Marines—despite California Gov. Gavin Newsom's objection—other celebrities, including Green Day frontman , have also spoken out. Next: Iconic '90s Rocker, 61, Sends a Bold Political Message Amid LA ICE Protests first appeared on Parade on Jun 10, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Washington Post
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Mali political activist freed after monthlong abduction
BAMAKO, Mali — A leading political activist whose family said that he was abducted by Mali's military authorities has been released after a month in captivity, his relatives said Sunday. Alassane Abba, one of the leaders of the former political party Codem, was dropped off along a road in Mali's capital, Bamako, on Thursday, Alhousseini Jannatta Alassane, his son, told The Associated Press.
Associated Press
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Mali political activist freed after monthlong abduction
BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — A leading political activist whose family said that he was abducted by Mali's military authorities has been released after a month in captivity, his relatives said Sunday. Alassane Abba, one of the leaders of the former political party Codem, was dropped off along a road in Mali's capital, Bamako, on Thursday, Alhousseini Jannatta Alassane, his son, told The Associated Press. 'No authority has confirmed their involvement, but we believe the intelligence services were behind the kidnapping,' he said. Intelligence services in Mali don't speak with the media about such cases, and other government authorities weren't immediately available to comment. Abba, who was the secretary-general of the Codem party, was seized and taken away on May 9 shortly after he spoke out against the crackdown on civic rights in the country and the ruling junta's failure to hold an election since a coup in 2021. His arrest came amid pro-democracy demonstrations in Bamako that criticized the growing dictatorship under the junta and called for the return of democracy. Several political figures are still detained after criticizing the military government's power. Mali, a landlocked nation in the semiarid region of Sahel, has been embroiled in political and security instability that swept across West and Central Africa over the last decade. The nation has seen two military coups since 2020 as an insurgency by jihadi groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group worsened. Arrests of pro-democracy activists have multiplied in response to demonstrations. In May, Gen. Assimi Goita, president of the country's transitional government, signed a decree dissolving political parties following a demonstration by several hundred pro-democracy activists.
