Marginalized groups in Vancouver gather in support of Indian farmers

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Calling it an opportunity to bring like-minded people together, a rally is taking place Sunday in downtown Vancouver in support of Indian farmers.

One volunteer, who chooses to remain anonymous, says it’s critical to ensure that various communities speak out against oppressive laws favouring corporations instead of farmers.

“By us protesting outside of India, it puts like a lens on and it puts scrutiny on [the Indian government],” she says.

Organizers say they’ve reached out to various groups — including Indigenous activists and Black Lives Matter — to denounce the policies of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

One of the organizers adds their rallies go beyond farming.

“It’s about the greater issue about the corruption of the Indian government,” she says.

“The event is a great showing of community and spirit as with the solidarity with Indian farmers and the larger context of human rights abuses.”

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They do say they have been receiving threats from white supremacists groups and others who oppose their movement.

“We have received messages from a white supremacist group and we’re vigilant in our interaction, but these things tend to cause divide for people who don’t take the time to understand what this issue is.”

The rally Sunday is taking place at the Vancouver Art Gallery, but one of the volunteers Harmeet Kaur says her “main objective here is peace,” and she’s not too concerned.

“I truly feel so comfortable and safe and our security, but I feel that if they walk up, they’ll take one look at us and they’ll turn around and they will leave,” Kaur says.

This Sunday’s event is a prelude to another rally planned on Tuesday in downtown Vancouver in front of the Indian consulate to coincide with that country’s Republic Day.

 

– With files from Nikitha Martins

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