Toronto – Nineteen of the more than 110 people charged with ‘conspiracy’ related to the anti-G20 mobilizations appeared in court today accompanied by friends, family, activists and community organizers who are demanding that all charges for all G20 defendants be dropped and police stop enforcing their political agenda to criminalize dissent. Human rights and civil liberties organizations such as Amnesty International and Canadian Civil Liberties Association, along with seasoned criminal lawyers also spoke out against the infringements of rights and the G20 legal fiasco, at a press conference organized by the Community Solidarity Network.
This court date happened just days after Alex Hundert, a defendant facing ‘conspiracy’ charges was re-arrested on alleged breach of his bail condition to not attend a public “demonstration”. Criminal lawyer Howard Morton warns “this re-arrest sets a dangerous precedent”. Hundert was speaking on an academic panel at Ryerson University, invited by faculty member, Judy Rebick.
Says Judy, “This was in no way a demonstration. It was a meeting examining the political situation around the G20 and Hundert’s arrest following the event is an outrage. It is yet another example of political policing and over-extension of police powers.”
Over 100 other people are presently facing similar “no-public demonstration” charges. Criticisms have been building of the absurd police interpretation of “demonstration”. “Releasing dissenters on the condition that they refrain from publicly expressing their opinions, may have the effect of silencing governmental critics. Such conditions constitute a clear violation of charter rights such as the freedom of speech and the freedom of peaceful assembly” says Nathalie Des Rosiers, General Counsel at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.
Shanaaz Gokool, the Toronto Chair of Amnesty International Toronto Organization who spoke at the press conference added, “Amnesty International has repeatedly called for an independent inquiry into the actions of the government and the police both in the lead-up to, and during the G20 summit in Toronto in June, this year. Still no answers”.
The Conservative government recklessly squandered over $1.2 billion of public funds during the G8/G20 summit. The RCMP costs alone account for $70 million, and as much as $2 million were splurged on constructing a temporary “fake lake” for the G20 leaders. All this while the government continues to cut spending on critical social services, provides tax cuts to corporations, and bail out banks.
Mandy Hiscocks, one of the 19 people charged with conspiracy who appeared at court today, also spoke at the press conference. She asks, “Are they going to arrest me for speaking out at this press conference?”
She continues, “I was arrested for working in solidarity with communities of color, poor and marginalized communities who are forced to bare the daily injustices the current system imposes upon them. The intense police repression that we are seeing now is just a reflection of the reality that these communities are forced to live with daily.”
Jessica Denyer, a member of the Community Solidarity Network adds, “The 19 people charged with conspiracy appearing today are valuable organizers working in our communities to create a better world. This criminalization of dissent must end now. We call that all the charges be dropped and that all political prisoners be free.”
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Media liaison: Yogi Acharya 647-454-2443, tcmn.media@gmail.com
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