Dear Health Promoters.
The following is a plea for support for justice against rampant
authority.  Please read and respond according to your conscience.
David Burman

PLEASE CIRCULATE WIDELY, ESPECIALLY TO INTERNATIONAL LISTS AND CONTACTS


     Three members of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), Stefan
Pilipa, Gaetan Heroux and John Clarke, are presently on trial on charges
arising from a March against homelessness to the Ontario Legislature on
June 13, 2000.  The three have been singled out by the authorities as
so-called 'leaders' of a 'planned riot'.  Stefan and Gaetan are accused of
'participating in a riot' and face two years in jail.  John is charged with
'counselling to participate in a riot' and 'counselling to assault
police'.  He faces a five year jail term.

     The March took the form of a demand to have six people affected by
homelessness speak to the Assembly.  This was denied and police on horses
and others in full riot gear moved in to clear the grounds of the
Legislature, precipitating a major confrontation.

     Dozens of people were arrested at this event or in the weeks following
it.  Some had to serve jail sentences.  One homeless man was denied bail
and spent seven months in Toronto's Don Jail.  A young woman, who we can't
name under the 'Young Offenders Act' will be sentenced in April.

     The trial of the three who are accused of leading and organizing the
event, began on January 13.  So far, the time has been taken up with pre
trial motions dealing with a range of issues.  These have been enormously
important but, unfortunately, the Judge has imposed a total ban on
publicizing this phase of the proceedings.  Any media coverage or internet
communication on these matters would result in severe legal
penalties.  Jury selection, however, is expected to get underway by the end
of February.  This main portion of the trial is expected to run for two to
three months.

     We have no doubt that these charges are part of a systematic attempt
to silence our organization and prevent it from resisting the attacks on
the poor and homeless that the Ontario Government continues to mount. They
also have serious implications for the civil liberties and democratic
rights of all who mobilize in the struggle for social justice.  The riot
provisions of the Canadian Criminal Code are antiquated, reactionary and
seldom used.  A 'riot' is merely 'an ulawful assembly of three or more
persons that has begun to disturb the peace tumultuously'.  Stefan and
Gaetan are not accused of any very noteworthy actions on the day but have
been selectively prosecuted as 'leaders' of the event.  John is charged on
the basis of a speech he gave urging the crowd to help the homeless
delegation press their demand to be heard.  Clearly, these charges are
opening the way for a situation where the authorities can provoke
confrontation, label their handiwork a 'riot' and then round up activists
and target organizations they wish to silence.  The very right to organize
resistance is being criminalized.

     We are asking for help from progressive organizations internationally
to challenge this serious attack.  Our website at
<http://www.ocap.ca>www.ocap.ca includes a statement of solidarity that we
are asking people to sign.  Information and examples are also included
around sending letters of protest to the Attorney-General of Ontario to
press the demand that the charges be dropped.  We need this kind of help
urgently.  The signing of the statement takes only a minute and the
drafting of a letter to the AG is a small task.  Such support, however,
will have a huge impact and be enormously inspiring to us here.  Please
copy all letters to <mailto:[log in to unmask]>[log in to unmask]

     We will post regular updates on our website once the jury is selected
and the publication ban lifted.  They will not silence us and, whatever the
result of the trial, we will be stronger and more determined than ever to
fight back.

Thanks,
OCAP

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