Less than 24 hours after Hundert refused to sign bail conditions that he and his supporters both considered to be unjust, his supporters state he was coerced into signing those same bail conditions and forced to consent to his release.
These bail conditions include 1: non-association with individuals such as Harsha Walia and Dan Keller and groups such as AW@L and No One Is Illegal (NOII); 2: no planning and/or participating/planning public meetings or marches and 3: no expressing political views in public, including in the media.
Supporters of Hundert allege, “On the night of Wednesday October 14, Alex was told by the security manager at the Toronto East Detention Centre that he had to sign the bail conditions or face solitary confinement in “the hole,” without access to phone calls or writing paper. He was put in solitary confinement after an initial confrontation with correction staff where he resisted initial attempts to make him sign. He was denied the right to call his lawyer, and told that if he didn’t sign now, they would revoke the bail offer and he would be held in solitary confinement until his eventual release from prison.
Coerced into signing these conditions, Alex was thrown out of Toronto East and left to find his own way home to his sureties’ house. The prison authorities forced him into a position where he could potentially be accused of further breaching his bail. Alex is now back on house arrest with an enforced curfew, with non-associations with co-accused and members of SOAR, AWOL, NOII and other community organizers. He also has the additionally imposed restrictions of 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.”
*
Alex remains under house arrest under a strict curfew, imposed under his original bail conditions stemming from his July release and $100,000 bail. Hundert was originally arrested at gunpoint during an early morning raid on Saturday June 26, 2010.
This is a disturbing pattern. Let’s break it down.
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.
Patterns. Patterns. Silence.
Nathalie Des Rosiers, of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, is planning to write the Attorney General in Hundert’s defence.
“Speaking to the media does not threaten public safety,” she said. “These bail conditions are only aimed at silencing speech.”
**
In more G20 Summit police news:
Montreal police arrested Youri Couture on Thursday October 14, 2010 for his alleged involvement in the G20 Summit protest in Toronto in late June, 2010. Couture faces six G20 related charges as police allege Couture — while wearing a disguise — smashed the window of a downtown coffee shop causing an estimated $18,000 in damages. He is also accused of allegedly assaulting a police officer with a weapon, as well as mischief, disguise with intent.
Also, the G20 Investigative Unit continues to release G20 Most Wanted photos. On Thursday October 8, 2010, the G20 Investigated Unit released new G20 most wanted photos. The photos are of a man police allege was involved in the G2O Summit weekend violence.
Support rabble today!
We’re so glad you stopped by! Thanks for consuming rabble content this year.
rabble.ca is 100% reader and donor funded, so as an avid reader of our content, we hope you will consider gifting rabble with a donation during our summer fundraiser today.
Whether it be a one-time donation or a small monthly contribution, your support is critical to keep rabble writers producing the work you’ve come to rely on as a part of a healthy media diet.
Become a rabble rouser — donate to rabble.ca today.
Nick Seebruch, editor
