G20 “conspiracy” bail conditions to be challenged at Ontario Superior Court
Fwd:
Defendant Jaggi Singh to ask that all bail conditions are rescinded, including ban on demonstrations
When: Wednesday, November 17, 2010 starting at 10:00 am.
Where: Ontario Superior Court at 361 University Avenue between Dundas & Queen Street; for exact courtroom location, look for “Singh, Jaggi” on the court roll) [I will post the room number if I find out in advance – krystalline]
If you oppose the restrictive bail conditions imposed on all G20 “conspiracy” defendants – ban on demonstrations, house arrest, non-association, ban on passports and cellphones, and more — we ask that you attend court in large numbers this Wednesday.
The bail review is scheduled to continue on Thursday and Friday, but we’ll provide more details after the initial hearings on Wednesday. We are hoping as many people as possible can attend the beginning of the hearings this Wednesday from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm (approx) and then again from 2:00 pm 4:30 pm (approx).
BACKGROUND:
This week, starting on WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2010 one of the 19 remaining co-accused in the G20 conspiracy case will be challenging all bail conditions imposed as conditions of release from prison.
These restrictive and onerous conditions include house arrest, non-association with various individuals and groups, the inability to possess a passport or to use a cell phone, and more. Other co-accused face even more restrictive curfews and house arrest conditions. In sum, the bail conditions are meant to keep defendants isolated and marginalized from their communities of support.
The conditions themselves constitute punishment of fellow community
organizers before they’ve even had a trial.
Significantly, the bail conditions include a ban on participating, organizing or attending “any public demonstration.” These restrictive conditions have been used to jail co-accused Alex Hundert for simply speaking at a university panel. Alex remains in detention.
Jaggi Singh, a member of the Anti-Capitalist Convergence (CLAC) and No One Is Illegal-Montreal, and a co-accused in the G20 conspiracy case, has been under house arrest conditions for four months. This Wednesday, with the support of Toronto lawyer Peter Rosenthal as well as other allies, he will ask that all conditions be rescinded.
Jaggi’s court application is supported by various witnesses and affidavits. Part of the application includes an extended affidavit by Bryan Palmer, an historian of labour and social movements.
PEN Canada will also be intervening in the case in support of rescinding the “no demonstration” condition. In their words: “Preventing someone from participating in a public demonstration does nothing to ensure the safety of a single Canadian.”
Jaggi’s bail conditions challenge will set a precedent for all other co-accused in the G20 conspiracy case, as well as other defendants facing similar restrictive conditions of release.
It’s important to “demonstrate” (pardon the word) in court and to the public that there is a community of support that rejects the bail conditions that have been imposed on our friends and allies.
If you can, please attend court this Wednesday, November 17, whether for 30 minutes, or the whole day.
TO STAY IN TOUCH, and for updates:
La Convergence des luttes anticapitalistes, CLAC (Montreal): [email protected] – www.clac2010.net
Community Solidarity Network (Toronto): [email protected] –
http://g20.torontomobilize.org/
SUPPORTERS AND MEDIA can get updates about what’s happening at court on Thursday and Friday by phoning Jessica Denyer (Community Solidarity Network) at 416-708-3195, Craig Fortier (No One Is Illegal-Toronto) at 416-735-0409, or Blandine Juchs (La Convergence des lutes anticapitalistes, CLAC) at 514-966-8421.
#30#
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