Issue and opponent: The Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) was proposed in 1994 to decrease trade restrictions in the Americas. Its implementation was heavily disputed among U.S., Canadian, and Latin American citizens due to its expected backlash on labor unions, access to jobs, and fair wages. Leaders from 34 countries met in Québec City on April 18, 2001, to begin a segment of talks called the Summit of the Americas. In response, the Québec Federation of Labor organized a legally authorized march around the building where the Summit was held. In light of the tens of thousands of citizens, union members, students, and NGOs expected to attend, the Canadian government issued the construction of a barricade with thousands of riot police to separate the protesters from the world leaders.
Dilemma Action: During the march, a group called the Deconstructionist Institute for Surreal Topology (DIST) distributed a satirical pamphlet of humorous nonviolent actions from creating a Fuchsia Bloc dressed in tights and tutus to follow and “tease” the anarchist Black Bloc to laying fake siege to the barricade in a Monty Python-style skit. The skit idea was supported by a public figure who commissioned a group of artists to build DIST a harmless catapult. DIST members wearing pots and colanders on their heads to resemble medieval armor approached the barricade fully in character with their catapult. Acting as if they were laying siege to the police line, DIST members gently flung stuffed animals at the police while others dismantled the barricade. This action mocked the absurdity of the government’s decision to wall off protestors as if they were a major threat.
Outcome: In response to the teddy bear catapult, police fired tear gas, concussion grenades, and water canons into the crowd. Jaggi Singh, a well-known activist with no involvement in the stunt, was also arrested for seventeen days for the possession of a dangerous weapon. The police’s violent response was met with negative media coverage and increased public support for the movement. The catapult also led to an uptake of humorous tactics used during the Summit’s second meeting in Miami in 2003. The overwhelming public disapproval of the FTAA led to its failure to pass into law.