Toronto Community Mobilization Network Statement on Ontario Public Works Protection Act and Arrest
The Toronto Community Mobilization Network is disseminating information about a controversial new provision under the Ontario Public Works Protection Act which has designated the area inside and within 5 metres of the security perimeter as a “public work” from June 21st to 28th to 2010. This means that police officers can ask individuals to identify themselves, provide their address, and to state the purpose for which they desire to enter the public work.
This act values public property over the freedom of people and prevents community members from walking freely through the streets without questioning from authorities. One member of the Toronto Community Mobilization Network was arrested and charged under this act today. Friends and allies went to the detention centre where he was being held for jail support and to be there in solidarity. Many of these community members were either questioned, or detained and searched.
The Toronto Community Mobilization Network condemns the charges and the provisions under this act. The network also condemns police actions of only revealing this new provision public until someone was charged under this act. We want to assist in making this new provision public in order to keep as many of our people out of jail.
We will not be made examples of, but rather, we will publicly denounce oppressive activities of the state and highlight the solidarity in our communities. We will highlight the power of our communities to come out and support each other. In the streets we are helping each other with water, food, and medical support if needed. In jail or in the face of police intimidation we are helping each other with jail support, solidarity, and legal support. Before and after the G20 summits in Toronto we will continue to be allies, friends, and family.
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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.