Blueprints of Disruption

Draw the Line: Connecting Movements

Draw the Line isn't just a cross-country day of action on September 20th, 2025; activists involved have been building the structure and finding a basis of unity to bring together the movements in Canada who are all fighting the same thing - Capital.Three organizers from Draw the Line join the studio to talk about the work that went into connecting groups big and small, and finding enough common ground to build around something bigger. Hear about their five key demands, how they plan on turning this mobilization into sustainable mass organizing and what it means to "grow globally while acting locally".Guests:Willo Prince, Indigenous Climate ActionKaren Cocq, Exec Director, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change; and,Nathan Prier, President Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE).Hosted by: Jessa McLeanCall to Action: Host Your Own Action for September 20thRelated Episodes: Justice for Migrant Workers (Sept. 2023), a discussion on the conditions migrant workers face and the demands the movement is making to better protect them; and, Leftist Alliances and Power Struggles: A History Lesson (Apr. 2023), a history lesson on Labour politics and alliances with Prof. James Naylor.More Resources: Kwame Ture - Organisation vs Mobilisation — ITS-IN-SCOPEFirst Nations react to Carney’s Bill C-5 | The NarwhalChrétien-Era Austerity Levels May Soon Return Under Carney - The Maple Bill C-2 Gives Government Sweeping New Powers over Immigration - The Grind MagazineLatest Press Release from Draw the Line CampaignOur podcast is also available on Our Substack, along with articles and more resources for the movements.All of our content is free - made possible by the generous sponsorships of our Patrons. If you would like to support our work through monthly contributions: PatreonFollow us on Instagram or on Bluesky

Confronting Fascists at Christie Pitts

Things are heating up at Christie Pitts, 92 years after the famous riot there.In the first half of this episode, John Clarke and host Jessa McLean talk about the Swastika clubs that sprung up in Toronto back in 1933, how they were emboldened by the rise of Hitler and the Nazis, as well as legitimized, even encouraged by the establishment here in Canada. These clubs, furthering white supremacist ideology, attacking Jewish community members were allowed to roam around the City until the community decided they had had enough.In the second half, Catherine Crockett of the General Defence Committee for the IWW reminisces on the 'lovely riot' of 1933, its long term impact on the community. They'll also share some of the details around the planned anti-immigration rally and what organizers of the counter protest planned for this Saturday, September 13th hope to see happen.Call to Action: Register to Attend Community RallyRelated Episodes: Making Mass Actions Count, John Clarke, Professor at York University and longtime organizer, compares the 2022 strike by CUPE workers to the 1995 Days of Action against then Premier Mike Harris. Nationalism and the Working Class, Chris Fairweather, academic, activist and labour organizer, talks about the pervasiveness of nationalism and the impact is has on the working class.More Resources: Cable Street 88 years on: battling fascists then and now | Morning StarMore on the General Defence Committee for the IWWThe Riot at Cristie Pits (Full Movie)The Christie Pits Riot: The Worst Anti-Semitic Riot in Canada (Short Video) Toronto Today: Locals Organize Counter Protest to Oppose RacistsBe sure to also check out our Substack - it has written material, resources, as well as all our podcast episodes broken down into playlists. All of our content is free - made possible by the generous sponsorships of our Patrons. If you would like to support our work through monthly contributions: PatreonFollow us on Instagram or on Bluesky

Exposing Toronto Police Tactics

Activist and journalist Benjamin Nolan has witnessed a shift in Police tactics over the past two years, particularly in how they deal with Palestinian solidarity protestors. Toronto Police won't admit to any of it and mainstream media fail to tell both sides, which has left an obvious gap in report Ben wants to step up and help fill.He goes over his recent piece in The Grind, Police Chief Plays Loose with the Truth in Call in Show, which opens up a lot of discussions about police violence, their use of the knee-on-neck technique and just what TPS thinks 'proportionate' responses are to peaceful protests.Ben also provides firsthand accounts of Police overreaching their authority and not following the law, as well as reports back on the amount of injuries Hosted by: Jessa McLeanCalls to Action:Support the Toronto Community Justice Fund; and,Attend a Fundraiser Seminar in support of the Community Justice Collective, Copaganda: How Police and Media Manipulate our NewsRelated Episodes: Unverified: The Grind Exposes New Lows in Canadian Media (Oct 2024), Dave Grey-Donald goes over his months long investigation into the reporting surrounding October 7, 2023; Neighborhoods for Palestine (May 2024), Ben's first appearance on the show alongside four comrades organizing close to home for a Free Palestine.Weaponizing Canadian Law for Israel (Jul 2024), Martin Lukacs from the Breach talks about Project Resolute and the secret committee that drives it.More Resources: Bubble Zones: Confiding ProtestsBBC: Palestine Action Protest Arrests Over 500Inside Project Resolute, Canada's crack down on Palestine speechThe Breach: Inside the ‘shocking’ police operation targeting pro-Palestine activists in TorontoToronto Police “Caused a Riot” Outside 51 Division After Pro-Palestinian Protest of UJA Event - The Grind MagazineAll of our content is free - made possible by the generous sponsorships of our Patrons. If you would like to support our work through monthly contributions: PatreonFollow us on Instagram or on Bluesky

Demilitarize the AirShow

The F35 is back at the Canadian National Exhibition and its airshow - so are the peace activists.For years peace activists, environmentalists, refugee advocates and even pet lovers have been protesting the annual four-day airshow that includes war planes over an urban centre, Toronto. However, there is a new sense of urgency this year, as well as new tools. A recent report revealed the extent of Canada's role in manufacturing components for the F35, the very plane delivering genocide from the skies over Gaza.Three organizers, who are also part of the larger anti-war movement, talk about the shifts the campaign has taken over the years, the challenges they're overcomming and the coalition building that makes it all possible. Guests:Maya Bastian, artist, conflict journalist, filmmaker (AirShow),Sharmeen Khan, World Beyond War, and.Rama, Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) Montreal.Hosted by: Jessa McLeanCall to Action: Contact and Call on Your City Councillor to Demilitarize the AirShowRelated Episodes: Rabble Rants (Sept 2023) Stop the Air ShowDisrupting Canada's Arms Trade (May 2024), with World Beyond WarReturn and Liberation (Oct. 2022), with the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM)More Resources: CBC: Canada's F35 ReviewToronto Air Show Triggers The Trauma Of War | HuffPost PoliticsReport - Arms Embargo NowDemilitarize the Toronto Air Show - World BEYOND War All of our content is free - made possible by the generous sponsorships of our Patrons. If you would like to support our work through monthly contributions: PatreonFollow us on Instagram or on Bluesky

UNIFOR's Hot Cargo: Labour Internationalism

The work behind the Arms Embargo Now Report revealed that there are unionized workplaces in Canada making weapons destined for Israel. World Beyond War organizer called this information, along with a recent letter from Unifor's President "an opportunity" for positive action.Activists from Labour for Palestine are going into this week's UNIFOR convention in Vancouver with this top of mind. They are working on a campaign to have any goods or services coming from, or going to Israel, declared 'hot cargo'.They know the majority of Canadians, and thus UNIFOR members, are against the genocide, but that doesn't mean there aren't going to be obstacles in their way. In a political climate defined by fear and heightened nationalism, it has been a challenge getting workers to prioritize Palestine. Hear what work is being done to pave the way for more Internationalism not just inside UNIFOR, but within all Labour institutions.Guests:Pamela Arancibia, CUPE member, Labour for Palestine GTAShaheen Lotun, UNIFOR local 2025 President, Labour for PalestineHosted by: Jessa McLeanCall to Action: Tell the CLC to Declare Israeli Goods 'Hot Cargo'Related Episodes: Answering the Call (Jan 2024) with Anna Lippman of Labour for Palestine Nationalism and the Working Class (Mar 2023) with Chris FairweatherMore Resources: Unifor letter to Prime Minister Carney Re: Urgent Canadian intervention to end the genocide in Palestine | UniforHot cargo agreements 101: a practical legal overview - Rights NavigatorCJPME: Canadian Labour Congress Endorses sanctions on IsraelReport - Arms Embargo NowPeople's Voice: Internationalism, identity politics and anti-apartheid organizingRabble: Paramedic fired for pro-Palestinian speech fights for reinstatementThe Maple: Israeli Products Should Have No Place In CanadaAll of our content is free - made possible by the generous sponsorships of our Patrons. If you would like to support our work through monthly contributions: PatreonFollow us on Instagram or on Bluesky