more news:

write your own news:

all news by category:

You are here: Frontpage > News > Charges withdrawn in Canadian criminalisation of dissent cases

... more Antimilitarist news >>>

10-Jul-2003

Charges withdrawn in Canadian criminalisation of dissent cases

by: Alex

Canada: In a coup against the continued criminalisation of dissent by the Canadian police, two separate sets of criminal charges made against people arrested at related nonviolent actions have been withdrawn. The protesters were arrested at Homes not Bombs initiated actions at the Canadian forces base Downsview in March and at the Canada’s defence and security technology showcase (CANSEC) in April.
At the Downsview action, members of the Spring Nuremberg Action Group (SNAG), a coalition of Catholic Workers, Homes not Bombs, and assorted friends and allies, attempted to make Canadian soldiers commit to upholding the Nuremberg Principles during the daily bombing of Iraq.
The base was forced to go on lockdown and of the 30 attending protesters ten were arrested. The arrestees spent over 300 cumulative personal hours in local court proceedings.
While in custody the initial charges of trespassing (a non-criminal charge) were upped to obstructing a police officer.
At the CANSEC weapons fair approximately 100 people from across Ontario and Quebec attended a peaceful five-hour demonstration.
Four people were arrested for sitting in front of the entrance and were charged with criminal mischief, unlawful assembly and obstruction of a police officer. All four were held in custody for twenty-four hours.
The charges represent part of an ongoing criminalisation of dissent in Canada, with heavy charges being brought against individuals involved in protests, peaceful or otherwise.
Members and friends of Homes not Bombs have faced similar charges on seven other occasions over the last few years, although all have been acquitted in court.
In Toronto another ten members of Homes not Bombs face trial on 1 August for attempting to conduct a citizens' weapons inspection of WMD manufacturer Northrup Grumman.
Homes not Bombs campaign of civil disobedience continues with a planned action at Canada’s Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on 31 October.
For background to the SNAG case The protesters were arrested at Homes not Bombs initiated actions at the Canadian forces base Downsview in March and at the Canada’s defence and security technology showcase (CANSEC) in April.
At the Downsview action, members of the Spring Nuremberg Action Group (SNAG), a coalition of Catholic Workers, Homes not Bombs, and assorted friends and allies, attempted to make Canadian soldiers commit to upholding the Nuremberg Principles during the daily bombing of Iraq.
The base was forced to go on lockdown and of the 30 attending protesters ten were arrested. The arrestees spent over 300 cumulative personal hours in local court proceedings.
While in custody the initial charges of trespassing (a non-criminal charge) were upped to obstructing a police officer.
At the CANSEC weapons fair approximately 100 people from across Ontario and Quebec attended a peaceful five-hour demonstration.
Four people were arrested for sitting in front of the entrance and were charged with criminal mischief, unlawful assembly and obstruction of a police officer. All four were held in custody for twenty-four hours.
The charges represent part of an ongoing criminalisation of dissent in Canada, with heavy charges being brought against individuals involved in protests, peaceful or otherwise.
Members and friends of Homes not Bombs have faced similar charges on seven other occasions over the last few years, although all have been acquitted in court.
In Toronto another ten members of Homes not Bombs face trial on 1 August for attempting to conduct a citizens' weapons inspection of WMD manufacturer Northrup Grumman.
Homes not Bombs campaign of civil disobedience continues with a planned action at Canada’s Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on 31 October.
For background to the SNAG case http://www.peacenews.info/news/article/141 Contact TASC