Israeli Apartheid Week in Montreal (2015)

March 8-17, 2015 – Schedule of Events

Confirmed speakers from outside Montreal: Ahmad Abuznaid (Dream Defenders, Miami) * Samia al-Botmeh (Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel) * Cherrell Brown (Justice League, New York) * Glen Coulthard (author of Red Skin, White Masks: Rejecting the Colonial Politics of Recognition) * Eran Efrati (Boycott from Within, Israel) * Suheir Hammad (poet/playright, Brooklyn) * Steven Salaita (author of Israel’s Dead Soul; United States Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel) * Maya Wind (Anarchists Against the Wall, Israel)

•  All events are free (except for March 11 & March 13 shows).
• All events are wheelchair accessible (except for March 11 show).
• Childcare available at all events (please contact iaw-mtl@riseup.net in advance).
• Whisper translation (French-English) at all events.
• Please get in touch about any accessibility needs.

 

– SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 1pm —

Demonstration: Palestine solidarity contingent as part of the Women of Diverse Origins’ International Women’s Day Demonstration, Building the World We Want!
Rendez-vous: Bethune Square (Guy & de Maisonneuve, métro Guy-Concordia)
The International Women’s Day March is organized by Women of Diverse Origins. Info: https://wdofdo.wordpress.com/

— MONDAY, MARCH 9, 12:30pm —

Special Luncheon of People’s Potato at Concordia University, in collaboration with Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR)
Location: 7th floor People’s Potato Lounge, 1455 de Maisonneuve West, métro Guy-Concordia

— MONDAY, MARCH 9, 1:30pm —

Apartheid 101 Workshop & Presentation, co-presented by QPIRG Concordia & Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR)

An introductory presentation to the apartheid analysis of occupation and colonization, linking Israel’s apartheid policies in Palestine to the realities of global apartheid, as well as the practice of separation and exclusion, from Canada’s Indian Act to South Africa’s apartheid-era Bantustans. This workshop is intended for people relatively new to Palestine solidarity and BDS organizing. Welcome to all.

This workshop, presented by QPIRG Concordia & Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR), is preceded by a free lunch by People’s Potato, in collaboration with Israeli Apartheid Week. Info: www.qpirgconcordia.org

— MONDAY, MARCH 9, 7pm —

Film Screening: Born In Gaza (Zin, Hernán / Spain / 2014 / 65 mins / English-Arabic / English subtitles)
Location: H-110, 1455 de Maisonneuve West (métro Guy-Concordia)

Born In Gaza provides an intimate, deep look – leaving aside political debates – of how violence transforms the lives of ten children. A deeply human vision of the war and its consequences.

Organized by Cinema Politica Concordia in collabaration with Israeli Apartheid Week-Montreal. Info: www.cinemapolitica.org/film/born-gaza

— TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 6-8pm —

Panel: Racial Profiling & Police Brutality from North America to Palestine
Location: Moot Court, New Chancellor Day Hall, McGill University, 3644 Peel (métro Peel)

With Nargess Mustapha, Cherrell Brown (Justice League NYC) & Ahmad Abuznaid (Dream Defenders, Miami). A discussion on past and ongoing racial violence and race relations in the United States, Canada, and Occupied Palestine. Systemic links will be drawn across borders, and government tactics and the ways that police reproduce colonial mentalities will be explored.

Organized by the Center for Gender Advocacy at Concordia University, in collaboration with Israeli Apartheid Week-Montreal, part of Thick Skin: reflections on race, gender and political resistance. Info: http://genderadvocacy.org/events/5206/

— WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 8pm —

Show: Artists Against Apartheid
Location: La Passe, 1214 de la Montagne
(this venue is not wheelchair accessible)

Performances by Sam Shalabi (oud) / Stefan Christoff (piano) duet & Amir Amiri (santur) solo. $8 suggested donation (or pay-what-you-can).

Co-presented by Tadamon and Howl Arts. Info: www.facebook.com/events/824251644288159

— THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 6pm-9pm —

Panel and Community Dinner: Indigenous Resistance to Colonialism and Racism, with Glen Coulthard & Budour Hassan
Location: Native Friendship Center of Montreal, 2001 Boulevard Saint-Laurent (métro St-Laurent)

Join us for a community dinner and panel discussion about Indigenous Resistance to colonialism and racism. Our featured speaker is Glen Coulthard, a Weledeh Dene (Yellowknives Dene First Nation), author of Red Skin, White Masks: Rejecting the Colonial Politics of Recognition, and part of the Indigenous Nationhood Movement. We will also hear from Budour Hassan (via skype from occupied Jerusalem). Budour is a Palestinian anarchist, a law graduate, and a frequent contributor to the Electronic Intifada.

Organized by QPIRG Concordia, in collaboration with Israeli Apartheid Week-Montreal. Info: www.qpirgconcordia.org

— FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 10am —

Social Media, Academic Freedom and the Question of Palestine
Location: Morrice Hall 017, 3485 Rue McTavish

This event will include Steven Salaita and other speakers to be confirmed. Steven Salaita is a scholar, author and Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) activist. He is the author of six books, including Israel’s Dead Soul and Anti-Arab Racism in the USA.

— FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 5:30pm —

Lecture: Uncivil Rites: Academic Freedom in the Corporate University
Location: Redpath Auditorium, 3461 rue McTavish
(Accessibility note: Special arrangements for those with limited mobility and/or wheelchairs must be made in advance as the North Entrance has 2 sets of stairs. Contact iaw-mtl@riseup.net)

A feature lecture by Steven Salaita. Steven is a scholar, author and and outspoken Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) activist. He is the author of six books, including Israel’s Dead Soul and Anti-Arab Racism in the USA.

— FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 8pm —

Sounds of Justice Poetry Night, with Suheir Hammad & Moe Clark
Location: Café l’Artère, 7000 avenue du Parc (south of Jean-Talon, near métro Parc)

Featured performers include Suheir Hammad and Moe Clark. Suheir Hammad is a Palestinian-American poet, author and political activist based in New York City. She is the author of breaking poems, recipient of a 2009 American Book Award and the Arab American Book award for Poetry 2009. Her other books are ZaatarDiva; Born Palestinian, Born Black; and Drops of This Story. Moe Clark is a multidisciplinary Métis artist, looping pedal mistress, spoken word poet, educator, artistic producer, public speaker and activist based in Montreal.

Organized jointly by SPHR Concordia & McGill, in collaboration with Israeli Apartheid Week-Montreal.

— SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 10am-12pm —

Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Workshop
Location: McGill University Law School (exact details to be confirmed shortly)

This workshop will feature contributions from Steven Salaita, Samia al-Botmeh as well as two local Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) activists. Steven is active with the United States Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (USACBI), and Samia is active with the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI).

— SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 3pm —
Resisting Police Brutality From Ferguson to Palestine Contingent at the International Day Against Police Brutality Demonstration
Rendez-vous: Corner of Ontario & Berri (métro Berri-UQÀM)

If you would like to join the Israeli Apartheid Week anti-police brutality contingent, get in touch at iaw-mtl@riseup.net.

Organized by the Collective Opposed to Police Brutality. Info: http://cobp.resist.ca

— MONDAY, MARCH 16, 6:30pm —

Boycott from Within: A Talk with Eran Efrati & Maya Wind
Location: 7th floor CSU Lounge, 1455 de Maisonneuve West, métro Guy-Concordia

Eran Efrati is a former Israeli combat soldier. In 2009, he was discharged and joined Breaking the Silence, an organization of veteran Israeli soldiers working to raise awareness about the daily reality in the Occupied Territories. His collected testimonies from soldiers appear in the booklet “Operation Cast Lead.” His investigative reports appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Guardian. Maya Wind is a conscientious objector who refused to serve in the Israeli army; she has worked with New Profile, the feminist movement to demilitarize Israel. Eran and Maya are both active with Anarchists Against the Wall and Boycott from Within.

This event is organized by Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) at Concordia with the support of QPIRG Concordia. Info: www.qpirgconcordia.org

— TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 6pm-8pm —

Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Montreal Student Roundtable
Location: Café Aquin (A-2445), 400, rue Sainte-Catherine est (métro Berri-UQAM)

The culmination of Israeli Apartheid Week in Montreal will take the form of a roundtable of student organizers and activists who are committed to building the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaigns at Montreal-area colleges and universities. We will have participants from Concordia University (where BDS resolutions have been successful at the undergraduate and graduate level), McGill and UQÀM, as well as representatives from student associations such as ASSÉ. We encourage local students to join this roundtable as we tangibly build opposition to Israeli apartheid at colleges and universities. Please get in touch if you would like to participate as a member of your campus or student association (e-mail: iaw-mtl@riseup.net).

Organized by the Israeli Apartheid Week organizing committee in Montreal. Info: iaw-mtl@riseup.net

Info:
web: iawmontreal.org
e-mail: iaw-mtl@riseup.net
facebook: www.facebook.com/apartheidweekmontreal
twitter: @SAI_Montreal