Because speaking the truth shouldn’t be criminalized.
Alex Hundert (Indigenous rights and environmental activist) spoke at Ryerson University on Sept. 17, 2010 at a G20 panel called “Strengthening Our Resolve” and was thrown in jail for it. The government reasoning: Alex speaking on that panel was akin to participating in a demonstration, an activity he was banned from because of his G20 related bail conditions. Please click this link to see the video for yourself.
It seems like the police and the gov’t don’t know the difference between a panel discussion and a public demonstration — AND the state wants to shut people like Alex up. Let’s show them the difference.
Please see this backgrounder here: The re-arrest of Alex Hundert – Why the police should be charged with obstruction of justice
This is what a demonstration looks like:
When: Tuesday, October 12 at 5 p.m.
Where: Starting at 55 Gould Street (Ryerson Student Centre)
On October 8th, a Justice of the Peace ruled that Alex Hundert, a community organizer facing politically motivated G20 related “conspiracy” charges, had violated his “no-public demonstration” bail condition for participating in panel discussions at two university events.
He was arrested on the evening of September 17th in front of his father’s house after speaking on a panel at Ryerson University and has been in jail ever since. Based on the ruling on Oct 8, the Crown is now seeking to revoke Alex’s bail entirely and keep him behind bars.
Alex is one of many community organizers and activists facing “conspiracy” charges for effectively voicing their opposition to the G20 agenda of exploitation and exclusion. Police have threatened many of these organizers with arrest for speaking at events or to the media.
This targeting of organizers is intended to weaken our growing and thriving social and environmental justice movement, to isolate effective and vocal community activists, and to criminalize dissent against the violent policies of the G20 that perpetuate environmental degradation, militarization, labour exploitation, and theft of Indigenous lands that wreaks misery for the world’s majority. While the panic surrounding the G20 protests has pushed forward the criminalization of resistance, we also continue to witness the criminalization and intensification of repressive state practices against immigrants and refugees, Indigenous people, queer and trans folks, and communities living in poverty.
The ruling that a public panel is somehow a public demonstration sets a dangerous precedent and is an attack on us all. This is why we must challenge it and its’ potential to silence not only G20 organizers, but all communities in struggle.
We will not be silenced or intimidated. Show your support and solidarity with Alex and all those facing G20 related charges on Tuesday at 5pm at 55 Gould Street, as we show the police and the attorney general what a public demonstration really looks like!
See you there!
www.g20.torontomobilize.org
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