[note: in the corporate press, a drug dealer is a small time mover of the product who makes cash. A big time mover of tons, such as the current governments of Colombia and Afghanistan, is called either a statesman or a business man. --Macdonald]
The Vancouver Police and local drug dealers announced threats of physical violence against the peaceful residents of the Woodwards Squat this morning. VPD boss Jamie Graham issued the threat which was printed on page A22c of the Vancouver Province. "There will come a time when the legitimizing of this kind of protest ends," he exclaimed. He then announced his desire to obtain a court order to remove the homeless from sidewalks using physical force. The City of Vancouver continues to insist that it is opposed to the use of a bylaw injunction to "deal with" the public housing crisis. Drug dealers across the street, on Hastings, insist that they are losing $2000-$5000 per day in the trade of crack cocaine. If this was true it would lend credibility to the remark made by Jon Stovell, president of the "Gastown Business Improvement Society," that area business is suffering. This morning dealers attacked members of the squat kitchen crew in an attempt to steal food. Additional support from the community is required during the early morning hours (midnight-8am) to ensure safety at the squat. It is unknown at this time if the VPD and dealers are working in a co-ordinated effort to disrupt the self-management of the Woodwards Squat. On a related matter, a law suit is in preparation by the Woodwards Social Housing Coalition. The VPD will be sued and ordered by the courts to pay for all the personal possessions they stole or destroyed after the violent raids and arrests of 21 September and 22 September. An inventory of all items is near completion. Vancouver Police will also be held accountable for the attack on community members and children at Britannia on 03 October and the subsequent arrest and harassment of political dissidents on 04-05 October. A comprehensive list of police abuses is also in preparation. The Anti-Poverty Committee has called for a full inquiry into police actions following the Britannia police riot: "To pressure the police comlpaints commission to do this, it is ESSENTIAL that everyone who witnessed the violence and brutality that day submit an official complaint form. If the commission recieves enough complaints, they will be forced to conduct an inquiry. People are also encouraged to submit complaints on police conduct during the squat eviction and the sidewalk cleansing at Woodwards." Complaint forms are available from the APC office at 42 Blood Alley Square (604-682-2726) or on-line at http://www.qp.gov.bc.ca/police/r202_98.htm APC asks that you send a copy of the complaint to their office for their records. All persons with cameras or recording devices should be careful at future public events involving police. At all three police actions, on 21 September, 22 September, and 03 October, photographers were targeted and their cameras damaged or confiscated immediately prior to or in the initial stages of the police violence. On each of the three occasions photographers were detained or arrested and were prohibited from recording police actions. Updates from the Friends of the Woodwards Squat: http://www.woodsquat.net ------------------------------------------- Macdonald Stainsby http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/rad-green http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/leninist-international -- In the contradiction lies the hope. --Bertholt Brecht _______________________________________________ Leninist-International mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/leninist-international
