On Tuesday, November 22nd 2011, 17 community organizers – including No One Is Illegal - Toronto’s own Syed Hussan – charged with G20 related “conspiracy” charges, entered into a ‘plea deal’ with the Crown. The plea saw eleven of the 17 G20 defendants getting their charges dropped, while the remaining six – Leah, Mandy, Alex, Peter, Eric, and Adam – will face jail time ranging from 3 to 16 months. Today, on Monday, November 28, Eric, Adam and Peter will begin their jail sentences.
It’s been 17 months since that week in June 2010, when more than 40,000 of us took to the streets in Toronto to fight back against an expensive and exploitative summit whose only real goal was the furthering of corporate greed, military expansion, wars, displacement and environmental destruction. 17 months since the Canadian police and government waged an explicit and overt war against any dissent making itself too visible on the streets; a war that included the largest spy operation, and the largest mass arrest (1,100 people) in Canadian history. All justified by a billion dollar “security” tag.
17 months since organizers were snatched off the streets, threatened with assault, assaulted, beaten and had their doors broken down in pre-dawn house raids. 17 months since activists and organizers visible and vocal in demonstrating opposition to G20 policies were charged with various “conspiracy” and “counseling” charges and forced to go through extended pre-trial detentions, highly restrictive house arrest and endure constant surveillance.
