(The following articles are from the May 1-15, 2008, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $25/year, or $12 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $25 US per year; other overseas readers - $25 US or $35 CDN per year. Send to: People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 133 Herkimer St., Unit 502, Hamilton, ON, L8P 2H3.)

PV interview by Johan Boyden

Farshad Azadian graduated from high school just last year. The 19 year-old first-year student and All-Star rugby player was at the centre of controversy in January when the University of Toronto ordered the removal of several hundred posters by a student activist group for which he was a spokesperson. Always Question accused Barrick Gold of killing labour leaders, instigating wars, and burying miners alive. Barrick Gold has donated over $18 million to the University.

     Now Farshad's helping with the Ad Hoc Committee for Just Education at the U of T, which recently formed and is bringing together a several student groups around tuition issues. I caught up with him speaking passionately at an April 19 rally in support of Mumia Abu Jamal.

People's Voice: How did you get radicalized?

Farshad Azadian: I've always been political, I was involved in the NDP and went to a convention before high school. But I figured I was more radical than that. When I was in grade 12 some friends and I started a group called "Always Question," basically an awareness campaign. Because of our goals, we became more of political organization. Soon over 120 people were discussing on our website.

     Most of us went to U of T. When they announced a 20% increase in room rates at New College we decided we had to fight it - and we jumped on board, postering, getting people from bigger groups on campus. My friends and I re-formed Always Question. New College Student Council and Residence Council supported us, as well as the University of Toronto Student's Union and others.

PV: Then you did a sit in.

FA: Yes, we got speakers and organized a main protest outside the University President's office, Simcoe Hall, demanding [among other things] a meeting with the President and a 15 minute presentation to Governing Council about access to education and tuition fees. People then went inside Simcoe Hall's foyer in a non-violent peaceful protest. The Toronto Police came, but left, but campus police stayed. Most of them were in plain clothes, and they wouldn't say they were police. The kept moving in, pushing us around. Then we sat down outside the Vice Provost's door.

     After that the police began to rough us up, but we were clear in not resisting and being passive. But some people got really shoved harshly. T-shirts were ripped, police tackled people, and dragged them away - it was a big shock to see the campus police react in that way.

     Then some of the Administrators came out, and basically stepped on the students. One of them said to me "I don't discuss with the radicals."

PV: Why were the police so heavy-handed?

FA: A veteran activist told me that there was an higher number of students of colour at the protest than usual. I think the protest became racialized. The Administration has more ability to deal with protestors now that they've brought in the Student's Code of Conduct.

     It's also been quite active at the U of T recently, I think they were trying to send a message of intimidation. After the demo some police followed a few organizers back to their residences.

PV: Then what happened?

FA: On the 25th we held another demonstration, which was better organized and groups such as the United Steel Workers, Canadian Union of Public Employees, and the Canadian Federation of Students came out, as well as other groups, like Justice for Alwy [a Toronto campaign for a youth of colour shot by police without provocation].

     Then we held a public forum a few weeks ago. We talked about the workers, and about eliminating tuition fees - which, I think, makes us look at real solutions. We're talking about ways to organize the university community and a more of "United Front" approach. At the forum we started the Ad Hoc Committee, around three points - demanding the elimination of tuition fees, student-worker-faculty parity on the governing council, and immediate end to repression against student dissent. We're planning to organize for Frosh.

PV: What will you be saying to first-year activists?

FA: I'd tell them that the hardest thing is just to start. But look at what has been done in the past - look at Quebec, look at France [with the 2007 mass-mobilizations]. Protest is actually very realistic and possible. And if you are serious about fighting for justice, you have to do something.