alexdrop_0

Updated: Monday October 25, 2010.

Alex Hundert was re-re-re-arrested on October 23, 2010.

This will be the third time Alex Hundert has been jailed for his alleged involvement in the G20 Summit protests.

His first arrest was at gunpoint on June 26, 2010, and charged with conspiracy as the crown alleged he was a “G20 ringleader”. His second arrest was on September 17, 2010, after speaking about the G20 on a university panel (determined to be a breach of bail conditions).

In the morning of Saturday October 23, 2010, Alex Hundert was arrested at his surety’s house. He has been charged with attempting to intimidate a member of the judicial system.

According to witness Jonah Hundert — who is Alex Hundert’s brother — Alex Hundert was arrested on an unfounded allegation, and one clearly designed to return Hundert to prison.  

“From what I know, two Crown attorneys are alleging that Alex Hundert tried to intimidate them during a court appearance last week.”

“I witnessed the alleged incident, and I’m confident that this charge is unfounded. It is a further attempt to silence and incarcerate my brother,” said Jonah Hundert, who was with Alex at the time. “This most recent attempt to vilify him will not work, and support will continue.”

“Each arrest is more preposterous than the last. The fact that this latest unbelievable charge is coming from the Crown themselves reveals a clear political bias from the Attorney General’s office to keep Alex in jail at all costs and to criminalize political dissenters,” stated Jonah Hundert.

“The Movement Defence Committee is deeply concerned that Alex Hundert continues to be targeted by the state, this is his third arrest under questionable circumstances,” said Ryan White from the Committee.

Supporters note that Alex Hundert, “has been targeted by the police on a number of occasions and was arrested for speaking against the G20 in September at a panel discussion. Community organizations and individuals have rallied behind Hundert, in opposition to this blatant intimidation. This arrest was clearly an attempt to silence political dissent and impede public discussion about the G20 and the police abuses during the G20 protests. Following this arrest, he was jailed for over a month before being released.”

Just last week Hundert submitted an application to appeal his new set of restrictive bail conditions. The conditions include non-associations with a large number of social justice activists, no direct or indirect posting to the internet; no assisting, planning, or attending any public meeting or march; and no expressing of views on a political issue.

May I point out again this disturbing pattern:

1: Arrested at gunpoint in an early morning raid on June 26, 2010.

2: Charged for being one of the alleged G20 “ringleaders” because of his background in community organizing around Indigenous rights and environmental justice (Note: I myself consider these one in the same) and his alleged involvement in organizing the G20 Summit protests. Released on July 19, 2010 with bail conditions preventing his participation in public demonstrations.

3: Government challenged Hundert’s court ordered bail release. On Monday Sept. 13, 2010, the court ruled he could remain free on bail.

4: Hundert re-arrested on September 17 after speaking about the G2O on a Ryerson University panel. Government alleged that Hundert breached his bail conditions by speaking at the event, a transgression of his no demonstration bail condition. Court later ruled that Hundert did indeed breach his bail conditions for speaking at the event. Crown presented him with a new set of bail conditions.

5: On October 12, 2010, Hundert gave notice of his intention to refuse to sign these additional, restrictive bail conditions presented to him by a Justice of the Peace to secure his release. On the same day, rallies were held in support of Alex Hundent across the country and the pubic was informed of the news of his refusal to sign. The next day, Hundert formally refused to sign the new bail conditions.  

6: Late October 14, 2010, Hundert was forced to sign these bail conditions.  

7: On October 21, 2010, Alex Hundert launches an official appeal to the bail conditions.

8: Alex Hundert is arrested yet again at his surety’s house on the morning of October 23, 2010.

The state is really grinding Alex Hundert down. I know people sometimes complain that the left can be paranoid, but the evidence here is clear. The state has Hundert between his teeth and is not going to let go. This repetitive pattern verges on insanity. The state is using the court system like a weapon against the activist community. This is obstruction of justice.

Does the government intend to break the back of the movement by breaking the back of one man?

I know well the activist community’s response is also clear: You mess with one of us, you mess with all of us.

We’ve got your back, Alex.

[Please note that this article does not include any interviews with Alex Hundert and this article was not written by, for, or on behalf of Alex Hundert.]

For background information about Alex Hundert, please see:

G8/G20 Communique: Alex Hundert appeals bail conditions

G8/G20 Communique: Alex Hundert ‘released’ on bail and why no one is celebrating

G8/G20 Communique: Alex Hundert remains in jail after refusing to sign unjust bail conditions

 

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Court Support for Ryan Rainville: 

On Tuesday October 26, 2010, at 10:00 am at Superior Court of Justice, 361 University Avenue in Toronto, Ryan Rainville will appear in court for his bail appeal. Please join his family, friends and supporters in the courthouse to show support to Ryan, who has been in jail since his arrest on August 5th 2010. Please note this might take place on the second floor, a room number has not yet been assigned.
 
Rainville is an Indigenous Rights Advocate who has been jailed in the aftermath of the G20 this past June. Ryan was denied bail in early August, and is being held at Maplehurst Correctional Complex. His supporters would like to request that friends and allies come to the Superior Court of Justice (361 University Ave) in Toronto to show their support.

Organizers would like to note that this is not a demonstration but a call for support.

Krystalline Kraus

krystalline kraus is an intrepid explorer and reporter from Toronto, Canada. A veteran activist and journalist for rabble.ca, she needs no aviator goggles, gas mask or red cape but proceeds fearlessly...