SCM readies for Vancouver Olympics demonstrations, joins homelessness campaign

As SCMers across Canada rally together in Vancouver alongside SCM @ UBC and SCM Victoria this week, our cross-Canada movement has joined the Red Tent Campaign, a campaign to end homelessness just as the Winter Olympics begin and the world’s eyes are on Canada.

SCM’s recent Solidarity Statement on the Red Tent Homelessness Campaign follows the General Board’s Solidarity Statement on the 2010 Olympics issued February 9, 2009, and highlighting the reasons SCM has taken a critical stand on the international sporting event. The SCM @ UBC released its own resolution on the matter.

Activists are preparing for a week of mass protest on Friday to raise issues of economic justice, homelessness, indigenous rights and civil liberties. Launching with a protest for the opening ceremonies of the Olympics on Friday – organized by a coalition which includes SCM @ UBC as a member – and culminating in an SCM ecumenical Ash Wednesday anti-poverty event the week after, the week also includes SCM participation in a March for Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women.

“We in SCM are incredibly concerned about the abuse of civil liberties which have taken place before the Olympics have even begun,” said David Ball, SCM’s General Secretary who is among five Ontario SCMers who will be in Vancouver next weekend. "On top of that, this is a unique opportunity to challenge Canada on its abuse of Indigenous land rights, military activities and the environment.

“We’ve been speaking out on the Olympics for a full year now, this is something we’ve done a lot of discussion, theological study and prayer around,” Ball added. “SCM will bring a spiritual activist perspective to the protests, as we cry out for human rights, economic justice and right relations.”

Local organizers at SCM @ UBC are part of the No 2010 coalition, organizing a packed week of events during the Olympic Games.