Prof slams Rice at anti-war rally

Halifax International Security Forum draws protesters

El Jones and helpers brave the rain. (Photo: Ezra Black)

There was no respite from the weather for anti-war protesters at Cornwallis Park, including El Jones, professor of Afro-centric learning at Nova Scotia Community College. One volunteer held an umbrella; another the mouthpiece of a megaphone. But for all their efforts, Jones and her notes looked completely soaked.

But moist weather did nothing to dampen the fire of her rhetoric as Jones laid down slam poetry in denunciation of former U.S. secretary of state Condoleezza Rice's role in launching the war in Afghanistan.

"I can't forget all the people you killed,
I know Martin Luther King's dream was never fulfilled,
So from one strong black woman to another,
I write you this letter, you shame me Condi,
Our people can do better."

The water-logged crowd cheered in appreciation.

Enlarge Image
Protesters cover the Edward Cornwallis statue. (Photo: Ezra Black)

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• Slideshow: Cornwallis rally (Nov 9, 2010)

Related Websites

• Halifax Peace Coalition
• German Marshall Fund

This past Saturday Jones and an ad hoc coalition of students, activists and concerned citizens gathered in Cornwallis Park, as they did last year, to protest the Halifax International Security Forum (HISF).

The HISF is a three-day event where world leaders gather to discuss global security. It is organized by the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), the Canadian government, the Department of National Defence and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

Protesters want Canada out of Afghanistan and Nato

Inside the warmth and comfort of the Westin Hotel, the forum's panelists including Rice, U.S. Senator John McCain and Canadian Minister of National Defence Peter MacKay discussed issues ranging from counter-terrorism to climate change.

But across the street in Cornwallis Park protesters braved the rain to address a somewhat different agenda. Their demands include an end to the war in Afghanistan and Canada's withdrawal from NATO.

Jones says Canada has failed in Afghanistan and should end the conflict to avoid further loss of life.

"It's going nowhere," says Jones. "We haven't done anything to liberate anyone or to install responsible government."

Jones, whose brother served in Afghanistan, accused the Canadian government of irresponsibly putting Canadian troops in the line of fire.

"We have a responsibility to make sure the wars we're sending these people into are just and that they're not useless or pointless."

April Wise-Gillap a first year student at the University of King's College attended the rally to distribute anti-war pamphlets.

"I oppose the fundamental idea of going into a country to fix it and impose our ideals," says Gillap. "Even assuming that we were going in for true humanitarian reasons, to make things better for [Afghanis], we're not going about it effectively."

Other issues at the anti-war rally

Veteran peace activist Betty Peterson addressed the rally from the foot of Edward Cornwallis' statue. The British military commander founded Halifax in 1749. She says Cornwallis imposed a bounty on the Mi'kmaq with the aim of wiping them out.

The crowd hooted in delight as protesters dressed in black climbed Cornwallis' statue and wrapped him in a sheet.

Peterson proposes that all references to Cornwallis be removed from Halifax and that Cornwallis Park be renamed Peace and Freedom Park.

"Cornwallis was a war criminal," said Peterson, "we need to de-Cornwallize Halifax!"

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