May 23rd to 29th, 2021
Sunday May 23rd
Red Braid Member Meeting
Bi-weekly meeting of all members of Red Braid.
This week’s meeting focused on internal organizational work, like passing new office protocols and deciding to finally purchase a Zoom account. We also discussed our participation in the Marxist Center.
Monday May 24th
Slocan RV Camp Meeting
Red Braid is supporting residents of an RV camp in Vancouver to organize against the threat of displacement. Today we finalized plans for a rally coming up on Wednesday.
Whalley Women’s Group
It was the second meeting of a new women’s group in Surrey. A small group of women from the street community attended and brainstormed ideas for the fledgling women’s group.
Tuesday May 25th
Eviction Defence Network: Eviction hearing
EDN supported a tenant in her application for a judicial review against the Township of Langley’s eviction.
Maple Ridge Resistance Meeting
We finalized plans for the “model tent city” action coming up next week.
Organizing for Power Training
Red Braid is organizing a cohort of tenant leaders to participate in Organizing for Power, a weekly skills-based training and networking program led by lead educator Jane McAlevey.
Wednesday May 26th
We Won’t Go! Slocan RV Rally
Slocan RV camp residents held their first rally, and it was a success. Camp residents spoke out against the criminalization of poverty. There were also statements of solidarity from the Vehicle Residents of Squamish Advocacy Group, the Surrey Street Council, and a local housing co-op.
Eviction Defence Network Meeting
We checked in on ongoing campaigns and planned our next townhall meeting, which will include a presentation on supportive housing and the work tenants are doing to fight back against the non-profit housing providers who trample over their rights.
Thursday May 27th
Bread, Roses & Hormones Meeting
BRH held our first cross-regional “coordinating” meeting. These meetings are focused on coordinating our campaign work across the Lower Mainland and southern Vancouver Island. We planned the final push and wrap up of our survey and finalized the topic for our third consciousness-raising session: the limits of awareness-raising campaigns.
Surrey Street Council Meeting
We debriefed recent actions that the Street Council participated in, including the Justice for Georgia and Slocan RV rallies. We also finalized summer hours for the Whalley People’s Resource Centre.
Friday May 28th
Our Homes Can’t Wait Meeting
Red Braid is part of the coalition Our Homes Can’t Wait, along with other housing justice organizers in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver
Flint Hotel Residents Meeting
Red Braid is supporting residents of the Flint Hotel in Vancouver to organize to address slum-like conditions in their building. Today approximately 20 residents gathered for their first meeting to discuss the problems they face and how to fight back.
Whalley People’s Resource Centre
We had a quiet night at the Whalley Centre with about a dozen visitors dropping by to charge a phone, get a clean and dry change of clothes, have a snack, or drink a cup of hot coffee.
Donate to the Whalley People’s Resource Centre. The weather is getting warmer, but it is still cold at night. We need coats, blankets, gloves, socks, and clean underwear!
Publishing done in this period
Besides various leaflets and local newsletters, we also published the following Volcano articles:
The Volcano, Vancouver RV camp refuses to obey City-ordered eviction
Groundings Podcast, “Maybe liberation is within reach”: Palestinian resistance against Israeli settler colonialism
