266, Bill Van Driel on G20 protests in Toronto and a continuum of repression in Canada

On this edition of Free City Radio we hear from community organizer Bill Van Driel. Bill speaks about experiences during the major protests against the G20 in Toronto in relation to the police and legal repression that was experienced by the protesters. Bill contextualizes this moment within a continuum of both protest actions taking place during this period against closed door international summits around the world, largely demonstrations focused on opposing the inherent inequality of capitalism. Also Bill places the repression that protest movements experienced within a realistic framework of understanding these moments of heightened police repression as reflected by media coverage that doesn't focus on the larger systemic mechanisms of social control and repression. Today Bill works with Solidarity Across Borders and has played a meaningful role in bridging anti-capitalist and migrant justice organizing spaces. This interview took place within the context of building discussions on the threat posed by a rising political support for the Conservative Party of Canada and what that means for social movements as well as vulnerable communities. This interview program is supported in 2025 by the Social Justice Centre at Concordia University. The music track is Passage by Anarchist Mountains. Drawing is about the fence in Toronto during the G20 summit in 2010. Free City Radio is hosted and produced by Stefan Christoff and broadcasts on : CKUT 90.3 FM in Montreal - Wednesdays at 11am CJLO 1690 AM in Montreal - Wednesdays 8am CKUW 95.9 FM in Winnipeg - Tuesdays 8am CFRC 101.9FM in Kingston - Wednesdays 11:30am CFUV 101.9 FM in Victoria - Saturdays 7am Met Radio 1280 AM in Toronto - Fridays at 5:30am CKCU 93.1 FM in Ottawa - Tuesdays at 2pm CJSF 90.1 FM in Vancouver - Thursdays at 4:30pm