Une chaîne humaine à la frontière : symbole d’amitié entre le Canada et les États-Unis
Zoé Bellehumeur, Lounan Charpentier, Laurence Trahan - Radio-Canada - 16 août 2025
Des centaines de Canadiens et d'Américains se sont réunis samedi matin pour former des chaînes humaines de chaque côté de la frontière. Ils voulaient ainsi poser un geste symbolique pour souligner les liens d'amitié entre les deux pays, dans un contexte où les tensions s'accumulent depuis des mois avec la joute tarifaire.
Translation:
A human chain at the border: symbol of friendship between Canada and the United States
Zoé Bellehumeur, Lounan Charpentier, Laurence Trahan - Radio-Canada - 16 août 2025
Hundreds of Canadians and Americans gathered Saturday morning to form human chains on both sides of the border. Their goal was symbolic—to underscore the bonds of friendship between the two countries in a climate of mounting tensions due to the tariff disputes.
On the Canadian side, the rally took place in Frelighsburg, about 20 kilometers southwest of Sutton. On the U.S. side, participants assembled in Berkshire, Vermont.
The event began at 11 a.m. with speeches and an artistic performance.
Mères au front des Cantons-de-l’Est and Vermont Indivisibles organized the gathering under the name Ensemble au-delà des frontières, or Together We Stand in English.
“Our purpose is to reaffirm our compassion and solidarity. To remember that we are a counter‑force, to remember that we have the permission to believe that we can influence what comes next in history. This is absolutely necessary now, when everyone feels powerless,” emphasized filmmaker and author Anaïs Barbeau‑Lavalette, co‑founder of Mères au front.
Laure Waridel, ecosociologist and co‑organizer, said the event was a success. “I feel full of hope that so many people showed up despite the heat. All words and emotions expressed show that we want to be together, to resist together, to protect our fundamental rights together—and that we have far more uniting us across the border than dividing us.”
"Hope lies in action"
According to Laure Waridel, co‑founder of Mères au front, the event was a success.
“I feel full of hope that so many people showed up despite the heat. Every word and emotion expressed shows that we want to be together, to resist together, to protect our fundamental rights together—and that we have far more uniting us across the border than dividing us.”
Through this gathering, Ms. Waridel hopes to send a clear message—not only to the Trump administration, but also to the movements "that are scattered and fragmented across North America and need to unite to create a real force and international resistance.
Hope lies in events like these… All the major changes in society have been brought about by citizens organizing themselves. We can’t afford to let the situation continue to deteriorate as it is,” she says.
“If we all woke up tomorrow morning, there’d be no more problems.”
— Laure Waridel, co‑founder of Mères au front
The co‑founder of Mères au front adds that this is part of a much larger movement. Similar gatherings are planned at about 45 locations across North America, including Mexico. To truly remind us that, although we hear a lot of divisive rhetoric— that's Donald Trump alone. The people remain friends", she explains.
Historically, we’ve seen deep bonds, families sometimes separated by the border, who still wish to remain friends. We share far more in common than we have reasons to go to war, be that a tariff war or anything else.
“It takes courage"
David Miskell’s eyes well up with tears. The Vermonter hopes that the relationship between Canada and the United States will return to what it once was. "Lake Champlain was filled with Quebec boats", he recalls. "I miss the flag, I miss the joy of people on the boats.”
“I’m deeply moved,” adds another participant, highlighting the courage of those who joined the rally on Saturday.
“When you’re scared. When you’re just an ordinary person like me, it takes courage. You never know [what might happen],” she says, explaining that she fears being placed on a U.S. government watchlist, which could cause problems at the border.
For another participant, an American living in Canada as a permanent resident, the event was "extra-emotional". “I think we’re all seeing something that too closely resembles what we saw in the past. Especially in the 1930s in Europe. If you don’t see that, I think you’re not paying attention. [Here] we all see it, so we must stay united,” he says.”
"A similar event was held in March in Frelighsburg for International Women's Day. The images circulated throughout the United States, and people at the Mexico border said, 'We need to do something like this. [...] This solidarity is too beautiful; it must be celebrated," explains Laure Waridel.'"
"Many people want to remember this. Because we are at a point where the news is truly disheartening, and many people don't identify with that attitude. [...] There is a way to stand against what's happening."
— Quote from Laure Waridel, co-founder of Mères au front.
"Together, when we unite, when we raise our voices, we are stronger, and that’s how we can protect what matters most to us—our fundamental rights."
Participants wore red for the occasion, a color symbolizing both love and anger—two emotions that resonated deeply with those present on Saturday.
