With Stefan Philipas and Gaetan Herouxs June 15 charges stayed, it leaves you to face your charges alone. How do you feel about being singled out?

I think what they’re doing is singling me out as the perceived leader of not only the protest that day, but of OCAP in general.

I think the defense is in very strong shape politically in the face of such shameless political persecution. It has only increased our support.

Do you think the turmoil reflected in the jury’s inability to reach a decision regarding the charges is indicative of a greater political feeling of uncertainty in Ontario?

I think the Crown fundamentally miscalculated the mood of the province and that it was inevitable that the jury would reflect that. I don’t think the Crown expected such a split between jurors or was prepared for such a split.

In the first trial, the Crown brought up the charge of participation in a riot, a charge not used since the 1960s. Does it seem to you that theyre digging up just about anything for their case?

There has yet to be this form of an attempt to decapitate the perceived leadership of a social justice movement. Its reminiscent of the 1930s, in fact, as these charges are essentially based upon a political speech I made, which goes back to the mentality of an earlier period.

When the Crown was looking to submit charges against me, they were going back to the 1920s and 1930s because there were no modern examples to put forth. Only recently have the courts set out to take a small group of people, deem them leaders and single them out, including the recent G-20 trial in Montreal and for the Quebec City summit trials.

Were you surprised they went for three male leaders to bring to trial?

They first wanted to single out four people: Stefan, Gaetan, Sue (Collis) and myself, but perhaps in their skewed perception, their backward gender assumptions, they focused on us. But there are many women leaders in OCAP who have great influence over what we do. If they wanted to look for them, they could easily find them.

You have been criticized in both the media and in some activist circles for your and OCAPs lack of politeness, because it could be considered a bit impolite and lacking in good manners to bring a large, militant crowd uninvited onto the lawn of Queens Park. Is it a political tactic of yours not to “give a rats ass about parliamentary tradition”, for example, as you were quoted during the trial?

The reality is that OCAP is building a poor peoples movement and the power of poor people is their power to disrupt. It doesnt matter how many eloquent briefs you bring to the political table, if you have no power or no investments behind you, you wont get heard. Disruption is their only weapon.

We are mobilizing a justifiably angry constituency and that anger is precious. But I dont think its so much a question of politeness, but a question acknowledging the limitations of moral pressure. The time has gone when a government would look out their window and say, “by God, there are a lot of angry people out there.” So its a matter of understanding that our tactics have to change.

Do you think the sensationalism around the trial has overshadowed some of the other work OCAP has done?

In general, being forced into the courtroom has been a double-edged sword. It uses up a great deal of our time and resources, but on the other hand, it has increased the support for us.

To be able to carry on with our work under such legal persecution is commendable. OCAP is definitely stronger today than it was in 2001.

For the organizing model behind the June 15 protest, do you think it was a worthwhile endeavour to have numerous groups and individuals from diverse social backgrounds united under the leadership of a militant group?

We know there are many activists out there who agree with us and understand that this is less a fight about us but more a fight to protect our civil liberties and the right to dissent. They dont have to agree with everything OCAP does, but they should support this case out of a desire to support the right to dissent.

What are your predictions for the fall?

If this trial is going to happen, it will happen in a political climate of widespread denunciation.

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...