Legal

April 28, 2011

Today, Jaggi Singh of No One is Illegal Montreal is in a Toronto Courtroom over charges related to last year’s mobilization against the gathering of the G20. He is pleading guilty to a charge of ‘counseling to commit mischief over $5,000’. This is how his support for resistance to an international gathering of thieves and murderers has been characterized by the State’s prosecutors.

Jaggi’s decision to plead guilty in this matter is a tactical one that we understand and respect. He offers no cringing apologies and implicates no one. He takes what he considers to be the best course to dispose of the charges he has been facing, including three counts of criminal conspiracy, and resume, unimpeded, his vital role in the struggle against everything that was on the agenda at last year’s G20 gathering.

Press conference in front of old ciy hall (courtesy- rabble.ca)

On November 4, the Crown Attorney's Office finally faced reality and dropped charges of mischief and forcible entry against nine members & supporters of OCAP

These preposterous charges were laid by the cops on July 21, after an OCAP delegation went into the Liberal offices, hung a banner out of the window and addressed a crowd that had gathered outside to resist the cut to the Special Diet and demand the raising of welfare and disability rates. There are now no ongoing conditions or criminal records for the nine to deal with, although the Crown sought to save face by insisting on each person making a small charitable donation under their system of 'diversion'.

All nine people were first told they would be facing trespass charges but this was changed to mischief (a criminal charge) and, later that evening, forcible entry charges were added. Each of those accused had to line up a surety to put up money and vouch for them, were subjected to strip searches and were locked up over a period spanning two days before a judge ordered their release. Bail conditions placed limits on the activity of those charged and their right to associate with each other was limited.

Where:
Trinity St. Paul's United Church (The Sanctuary)
427 Bloor Street West, between Robert and Major Streets and just west of Spadina Avenue
Spadina subway closest public transit stop

Time & Date:
Tuesday November 14, 2006
7:00pm to 8:30pm
Doors open 6:30pm

One Vote A Democratic Society Does Not Make

A democratic society is not simply defined by the ability to cast a vote. It is also about having the ability to freely engage in civil activism and freedom of expression. This sort of community dialogue and outreach gave us many of the rights and freedoms we now enjoy. Women can vote today because women decades ago marched. Black Americans marched, rioted and some died so they could vote.

No One Is Illegal-Montreal News and Events Digest

FEBRUARY 27, 2006

::::: NOT GUILTY! :::::

More than two years after being brutalized by police in Ottawa, non-status migrants and supporters are acquitted

OTTAWA, February 24, 2006: Today, 12 protesters involved with the Action Committee of Non-Status Algerians were acquitted of mischief in relation to the occupation of the Immigration Minister's offices in downtown Ottawa on May 29, 2003, more than two-and-a-half years ago.

The "not-guilty" verdict, for all 12 defendants, was greeted with loud cheers and applause. The courtroom, crammed with more than sixty supporters from Ottawa, Gatineau, Montreal and Toronto, broke into the chant: "So-so-so, solidarité, avec, avec, avec les sans-statut!"

The defense finishes presenting evidence: No more court dates in March!

On Wednesday, March 9th, the defense team for 10 non-status Algerian men and two supporters on trial for "mischief over $5000" after being brutally arrested in the Immigration Minister’s waiting room almost two years ago, called their final witness. He was one of seven accused to take the stand over the course of the past week. In his own words, he testified about the urgent reasons for which the group hand-delivered a letter to Coderre’s Ottawa offices on May 29th, 2003, and about the violence and racism of the takedown perpetrated by Ottawa Police and RCMP that night.

Read on to find out more about the trial and its background...

All 14 people arrested at the demonstration yesterday have now been released from police custody.

Norm Sterling
Attorney General of Ontario
720 Bay Street,
Toronto, ON
M5G 2K1

June 13th, 2003

Mr. Sterling,

--> A Call for Courtroom Solidarity and Support

--> The Trial of Non-Status Algerians and Supporters Arrested in Immigration Minister's Office Begins June 1st

Statement by John Clarke, OCAP Organizer