DA

Salut everyone!

I would like to strongly strongly advise people to check out these two very very important activist-oriented workshops this weekend, even if you can only drop in for a bit.

1: Legal Observer Training on Saturday (or June 5)

(Movement Defence Committee)

2: Direct Action Training on Sunday

(OPRIG –Tools for Change)

If information is power, then skill sharing is empowerment! The information you get from these workshops will help keep you informed and empowered when you hit the streets during the G8/G20 Summit protests in late June, 2010 in whatever role you wish to take. Might help keep you safe, too.

Be safe out there,

dear rebellions!

Sincerely,

krystalline

NB: A big thank you for OPRIG -Toronto Tools for Change and the Movement Defence Committee for hosting these workshops and to all the volunteers! Without you all, the movement is a very lonely place!

**

1: Legal Observer Training

Saturday, May 29

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)

252 Bloor St W, Room 2214

OR

Saturday, June 5

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)

252 Bloor St W, Room TBA

 Hosted by the Movement Defence Committee with the Summit Legal Support Project [email protected] You need to pre-register for this workshop!

The Movement Defence Committee is coordinating legal support during the G8/G20 marches, protests, and actions under the banner of the Summit Legal Support Project. We will be providing legal support to any protester who gets arrested – and we want your help!

In a nutshell, we are looking for legal observers who will be out on the streets from June 18 to June 27. The main role of legal observers is to get key info on arrestees and to relay that info to the legal support office. The secondary role of legal observers is to monitor and record any police misconduct, rights violations, etc. that occurs.

If contributing in this way to the broader community mobilization excites you, then contact us ASAP at [email protected]. We’re holding a mandatory afternoon of training that can be attended either on May 29 or June 5 so get in touch with us today for details!

 2: Direct Action gets the goods: 101

Sunday May 30th

11am – 5pm

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)

252 Bloor St W, Room 2214

Direct action has played an integral role in most change movements, from the civil rights era to the suffragettes, and from forest defense to worker justice movements. This workshop is for people who are newer to direct action, and are interested learning some basic ways to engage.

We will focus on mass mobilizations with an eye towards the upcoming resistance to the G8/G20 in Toronto.

The workshop will cover various topics, including:

– examples of effective historical direct actions,

– working in affinity groups/building your action team,

– common roles in a direct action,

– decision making at actions,

– basic safety considerations,

– knowing your rights, the legal risks and consequences of taking action.

 To register for Direct Action, please write to [email protected].

**

TOOLS for CHANGE is a series of skills-sharing and skills-building workshops
designed to help you gain the tools for doing research, education, and action
for social and ecological justice. This series is collaboratively organized by the
Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG-Toronto), Earthroots, and the
Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP).

Most workshops take place in downtown Toronto. Transportation subsidies
are available for workshop participants. All venues are wheelchair accessible.

For more information, please contact [email protected].

#30#

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...