Launching shoes for Iraq in Montreal
- photos capturing Montreal solidarity action with Muntader al-Zaidi.
- Photo: Anirudh Khul: raining shoes at U.S. Consulate in Montreal.
Inspired by Iraqi journalist Muntader al-Zaidi, who launched a pair of shoes at U.S. President George W. Bush this past week in Baghdad, local activists in Montreal held a mass shoe-throwing directed at the U.S. Consulate and the Canadian Armed Forces recruiting centre in downtown Montreal this past Saturday.
“This is a farewell kiss, you dog!” shouted al-Zaidi during a media conference at the office of the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, in U.S.-occupied downtown Baghdad, launching his shoes at the outgoing U.S. President. In the Middle East, pointing the bottom of a shoe in someone’s direction signals serious disrespect, while shoe throwing brings insult to an entirely different level.
International response to the incident has been rapid, as thousands participated in street protests in Iraq prominently featuring shoe soles, while anti-war groups internationally, including in Canada, have been demanding the immediate release of the Iraqi journalist who has quickly become a global political celebrity.
- Photo: Darren Ell. Target is George W. Bush at U.S. Consulate in Montreal.
Photo: Darren Ell. Québec solidaire’s Amir Khadir launches a shoe at George W. Bush.
Photo: Darren Ell. Shoes amassed for launching at George W. Bush in Montreal.
Photo: Pierre-Luc Daoust. “occupation anywhere; resistance everywhere.”
Organized by Block the Empire-Montreal, for info: blocktheempire(at)gmail.com
solidarity makes me cry … thank you for article and picture and to whom is on the pictures
Comment by claudia troebinger — December 25th, 2008 @ 12:13 PM