Almost everyone I’ve talked to since what seemed like the sudden announcement of Jack Layton’s death had the same experience that I did. It hit me harder than I expected. I’ve lost other comrades, many closer than Jack was to my politics and my practice but his death hit me harder. I’ve been thinking about why.

The essay below is both parts of the essay that was published in two parts in rabble.ca

I have spent the last year mostly away from the mad activism that has characterized much of my adult life. After the G20 and its aftermath, I decided I needed a break. It was finally time to write the memoir that I had wanted to write for several years. So I decided to take three months totally off from activism. It turned out I needed more time. With some exceptions, I have stepped back from organizing, blogging and most speaking. You may be surprised that during that time, when Rob Ford was elected mayor of Toronto and Stephen Harper, prime minister, I have become more hopeful about possibility of actually making the world a better place.

As some of you may know, I am working on a memoir.  As part of the journey I returned to New York City where I lived in 1968.  A friend and filmaker Nova Ami asked if she could follow me and make short film about my memories.  I think it's a wonderful film that captures both New York and me in a beautiful, loving and fun way.  Hope you enjoy it.

In an unprecedented protest Parliament page Brigette Marcelle holds up a "Stop Harper" sign during the throne speech.  She obviously knew she would be fired.   Her statement says: "The country needs the Canadian version of the Arab Spring." 

Take it from me when a young person finds the courage to do something like this, there are thousands more.  Hooray!!

Below is her explanation.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, June 3, 2011

Travellers at Terminal 3 in the Toronto airport were astounded Tuesday morning to see Gandalf the Grey and several hobbits march their handcuffed prisoner Stephen Harper, dressed as the evil lord Sauron, into a Synacrude Ltd. recruiting meeting. They demanded that Synacrude take him back to Mordor aka the Alberta tar sands, "the hell on earth that he created."

Judy recently did a talk as part of the Social Science Speaker's Series at Fanshawe College. Her focus was the relevance of the struggles in Egypt and Wisconsin for social change in Canada . See the presentation in four parts below: