http://cyberjournal.org/cj/show_archives/?lists='newslog' ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 30 Aug 2002 12:25:39 -0400 To: (Recipient list suppressed) From: Aaron Koleszar <•••@••.•••> Subject: G7 Legal Defense Fund Appeal From: •••@••.••• Activist Legal Defense Fund 317-2070 Quingate Pl. Halifax, NS, B3L 4S1 •••@••.••• Dear Friends, We write to you today to ask for your assistance. As you may know, on June 14 and 15, 2002 a meeting of the G7 finance ministers took place in Halifax, to prepare the agenda for the G8 meeting in Kananaskis, Alberta. A number of guests were invited to this meeting, including officials of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, but no one representing the rights of the people was allowed to attend. The G8 has a record of mainly working to advance the neo-liberal agenda, usually at the cost of workers', womens', indigenous, and human rights throughout the world. In the past few years the world has begun to realize that these powerful men must be called to greater accountability and to implement fundamental change. Here in Halifax a small group of people, compelled by conscience, went to visit the G7 ministers to try to add the voices of the people to the agenda. However, the police response to our non-violent protest was shockingly brutal. After firing tear gas and pepper bullets, and chasing the protest through town, they herded us into an area which police surrounded, and began making mass arrests. Thirty-two, of the fifty or so people who remained with the protest until the end, were arrested. Most were beaten or "zapped" with tazer guns, their property was confiscated and they were denied the right to legal council. So far, five people have been charged, and police have stated there is the possibility of further charges in the next few months. Those charged are generally committed local activists, who are dedicated to speaking out against injustice wherever they encounter it. Some Halifax lawyers have generously agreed to work at half-rate, and a group of law students have offered their time and skills to assist. Nonetheless, the legal costs have quickly mounted, and continue to rise. The Activist Legal Defence Fund has been started to help cover these costs, and ensure that the voices of these people of conscience are not silenced. We are also hoping to build the fund to help with possible group actions against the blatant violations of protesters' legal and constitutional rights by the police. We ask that you consider contributing to this fund. To do so, please contact us or deposit directly to the "Activist Legal Defence Fund" account at the Credit Union Atlantic, Spring Garden Rd. branch. We, in Canada, have the right to freedom of thought and speech, to freedom of assembly, and to dissent. We have the right, and the responsibility, to analyze and criticize the words and actions of our elected officials and publicly state our disagreement. When people are afraid to speak their minds, when people are afraid to express their disagreement because they may be gassed, beaten, and arrested, the rights of all of us are threatened. We thank you in advance for your support. Yours in solidarity, Heather Maxwell, for The Activist Legal Defense Fund
