G20 Court: Dropped Charges, Costly Delays and Calculated Diversions
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
23 August 2010
G20 Court: Dropped Charges, Costly Delays and Calculated Diversions
Rally to Drop the Charges at 6pm at Police Headquarters (40 College Street)
Toronto – People facing criminal prosecution for being on the streets during the G8/G20 Summit (25-27 June) appeared in a disorganized and packed courtrooms today, accompanied by friends, families and supporters. Many people saw their charges dropped, or diverted without a finding of guilt. No explanation was given as to why the police assaulted and arrested these people in the first place. Hundreds of other defendants will continue to go through the messy and unnecessary criminal proceedings in the coming months. Supporters are outraged by the ongoing expensive and failed security operation, and are demanding that all charges be immediately dropped.
“The people who are facing serious charges today share the same values as millions of people around the world. They were on the streets demanding safe and affordable housing, workers’ rights, an end to war and occupation, and environmental justice,” says Maryam Adrangi of the Toronto Community Solidarity Network, highlighting only a few of the banners under which people were protesting G8/G20 policies. “Their arrests and ongoing prosecution is an attack on people’s freedom to organize and create change. All charges must be dropped immediately”.
“As expected many people’s charges were either dropped or they were asked to pay money and have them forgotten without any evidence presented” said Jessica Denyer, who as the Court all day supporting friends who face G20-related charges. Over 1,100 people were arrested during the G8/G20, the largest mass arrest in Canadian history.
“Many people who’d traveled large distances, taken time off school or work were told that the Police or the Crown were not prepared to present evidence and they should return in a months time” explained Maryam Adrangi. “This just means the continuation of the G20 security fiasco that has been tormenting people in this city for months”.
According to a 1995 Ontario Civil Justice Review, a single three-day non-jury trial can cost taxpayers up to CAD$40,000. The cost of 300 trials in 2010, with some lasting significantly longer then three days could be up to CAD$12million. Considering the immense evidence of police violations, it is likely that most of these proceedings will end with people being released and charges dropped. An early cancellation can save the taxpayers money and finally put the G20 nightmare behind us.
At the G8/G20 meetings, G20 governments promised to cut deficits in half by 2013. This decision will inevitably result in huge social cutbacks and rising poverty. "As we saw in Toronto in June, G20 austerity measures will be backed with lines of riot police and violence. But people are refusing to be silenced or intimidated even in the face of such brutality. We are demanding real justice for those criminalized, and real justice for our communities that are struggling every single day." says Mohan Mishra from No One Is Illegal – Toronto and an organizer for the June 25th, Justice for Our Communities Demonstration.
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Natalie Caine and Claudia Calabro
Media Liaison, Toronto Community Mobilization Network
tcmn.media@gmail.com | 647.454.2443 | www.twitter.com/g20mobilize
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The G8/G20 meetings took place in Ontario from June 25-27, 2010. Toronto-based organizations of women, people of colour, indigenous peoples, the poor, the working class, queer and trans people and disabled people organized a peoples convergence with 40,000 people taking to the streets, standing up for justice in collaboration and solidarity!
Activists, community members, inspired and outraged individuals came together as a movement to demand justice for people and the planet. Over a week of mobilizations, events, workshops and direct actions took place in the face of state and police repression, violence and infringements on rights and freedoms.
We must continue to mobilize and build greater solidarity among our communities- an important part of this is supporting all those arrested during the G20 summit, including our allies still in detention, and those released on bail.