a day ago
Calgary erupts as protesters flood streets of Calgary with fury over Kashmir, Gaza, climate, and Trump while G7 leaders meet in mountain resort
As G7 leaders convened in Kananaskis, Calgary became a hub for diverse protests, with over 400 demonstrators advocating for global issues like Kashmiri self-determination, Ethiopian peace, climate action, and Indigenous rights. The marches disrupted downtown Calgary, leading to temporary road closures and some delays for emergency services, prompting a police review despite overall cooperation from participants.
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Environmental and indigenous concerns
Calgary Police takes charge
While G7 leaders gathered in the mountain resort of Kananaskis to discuss global trade, security, and climate policies, the streets of Calgary , just 100 kilometers east, became the stage for a chorus of voices demanding to be 400 protesters assembled near Calgary's City Hall, rallying for causes that spanned continents, including Kashmir, Ethiopia, Gaza climate justice , Indigenous rights, and opposition to US President Donald Trump . Demonstrators turned downtown Calgary into a global forum of its own.'We are here to protest for justice and peace for Kashmir,' said Majid Ishfaq, a community organizer with Calgary's Kashmiri diaspora. 'Kashmir is a flashpoint right now between the three nuclear powers, India, Pakistan, and China. We are urging the G7 countries to include our conflict in their agenda.'Nearby, Kidane Sinkie, president of the Amhara Association of Calgary, held signs denouncing the ongoing violence in Ethiopia. 'Leaders know everything that is going on. The point is, they don't act. We want to show how serious this is.'Amanda Gillis, standing beneath a banner opposing coal mining in Alberta's Eastern Slopes, made a dual statement. 'We've got to stand with people that want democracy and not fascism,' she said, referencing Trump's re-emergence in US politics. 'We also don't agree with Danielle Smith ignoring 77 percent of Albertans who said they do not want coal mining in our Eastern Slopes. It's going to hurt our water.'Several demonstrators, including youth climate activists from Fridays for the Future, voiced their opposition to fossil fuel expansion, which they say disproportionately harms Indigenous territories and violates Canada's environmental commitments.'We're doing the counter-summit for the G7,' said Cynthia Tahhan, holding a handmade placard. 'We're here to protest environmental degradation, especially by oil and gas corporations, and the destruction of traditional Indigenous lands.'Josie Augr, a Cree woman from Bigstone First Nation, stood quietly with her daughters, holding a sign that read: 'Water Is Life. No More Broken Promises.' 'Our people still have to boil water in 2025,' she said. 'The G7 talks about global cooperation. What about here?'Calgary police were forced to shut down parts of downtown, including Macleod Trail and the Fourth Avenue Flyover, as marchers wove their way through the city. The police later confirmed that while most protests were peaceful, some disrupted emergency services, including two fire department calls that were delayed due to the unexpected redirection of the march.'We will be reviewing all evidence gathered today to determine if any further action is required,' said Calgary Police in a statement. 'That said, the general willingness of participants to cooperate was much appreciated.'At one point, police said 'two calls for service for Calgary Fire Department were impacted' by a wandering demonstration that was eventually caught up to and the G7 is taking place behind tight security in the Rocky Mountains, designated protest zones were arranged in Calgary and Banff to ensure demonstrators could still voice their concerns. Still, many activists criticized the inaccessibility of the summit reported that no active protests were seen at Calgary International Airport's designated demonstration area, just plane spotters with cameras.
