STOP NATO: �NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------- ListBot Sponsor -------------------------- Start Your Own FREE Email List at http://www.listbot.com/links/joinlb ---------------------------------------------------------------------- In a message dated 01/07/01 16:25:58 Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << This spring we finished all the preliminaries in regards to the the lawsuit launched against the Toronto police by myself and Kevin Thomas. This lawsuit was launched as the result of our arrest on the charge of "Unlawful Assembly" which were laid as a result of our participation in the 1998 Reclaim the Streets Celebration in Toronto. The most recent hurdle, the examination for discovery, was an effort by both sides to examine witnesses and evidence that would be potentially used in court. Undertakings were made by both parties to provide additional evidence including, on my part, to try and provide copies of material I may have had posted around the 1998 RTS efforts in Toronto. This process was instructive in many ways. In my particular case, the police in their defence (through their lawyers) are alleging a leadership role as evidenced by, among other things, my writing about the RTS event and encouraging participation in it through web postings. This does have other potential connotations, especially in light of trial disclosures by police (in Hamilton around the 2000 Hamilton War Show and in Ottawa around the 1999 Homes Not Bombs action) that I seem to be a leader or organizer. While my ego doesn't mind the claim, I must confess I can barely organize my filing let alone a successful action. By the fall, we are hoping to have all the transcripts from the examination for discovery in hand and examined. We should then be in a position to finally set a date for trial. In light of recent developments (i.e. the detention of Jaggi Singh, the denial of bail for John Clarke), keeping alive a struggle for years is hard. There are new examples of the criminalizing of dissent that need to be addressed. One hopes that in dealing with the current crisis, one does not stop supporting other forms of resistance and activism against the the arrest of political activists. I was surprised to read the following piece on U.S. RTS movement. The following article gives some indication of the seriousness that the powers-that-be are taking an effort to attack the celebration of life and freedom in a public space. Note: Those wishing to help with defence costs can send donations to our lawyer. Cheques should be made payable to Brian Shiller in Trust and mailed to Shiller Layton Arbuck, 70 Bond Street, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1X3. Brian Burch [EMAIL PROTECTED] +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> posts: Reclaim the Streets NYC - http://www.rtsnyc.org News for Anarchists & Activists: <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo Is Dancing Terrorism? by PB Floyd Slingshot FBI brands Reclaim the Streets as "terrorists" - what the fuck have they been smoking?! In another sign that the growing anti-capitalist, anarchist, anti-car movement is gaining effectiveness, the FBI recently listed Reclaim the Streets amongst the "Threats of Terrorism to the United States." In a May 10 statement before the Senate Committees on Appropriations, Armed Services and Select Committee on Intelligence, FBI director Louis Freeh listed Reclaim the Streets as a "potential threat" to the United States along with assorted terrorists from Egypt and Lebanon. The report reads in part: "Anarchists and extreme socialist groups - many of which, such as the Workers' World Party, Reclaim the Streets, and Carnival Against Capitalism - have an international presence and, at times, also represent a potential threat in the United States. For example, anarchists, operating individually and in groups, caused much of the damage during the 1999 World Trade Organization ministerial meeting in Seattle." The list also included "extreme fringes of animal rights, environmental, anti-nuclear, and other political and social movements" as well as the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and the Earth Liberation Front (ELF). Getting included in such a list is always both a good and a bad sign: it means we're doing something right and are threatening the system, but it also vastly increases the likelihood of infiltration, frame-ups based on planted evidence, government-sponsored internal movement "splits," police use of deadly force, etc. Reclaim the Streets is actually more of a tactic than a movement or an organization. In 1996, activists in England decided to hold the first RTS "street party" by holding a day-time rave, complete with sound system, dancing, and party games, all with a political spin in a busy intersection. The party aimed to temporarily "reclaim" the street from cars and point out how capitalism and car culture deprive people of public space and opportunities for public festivals. The brilliant tactic rapidly caught on, and Reclaim the Streets street parties are now regularly carried out all over the globe. RTS goes beyond the limitations of the traditional "march and rally" protest by building coalition with the rave/dance/youth scene to create something that is disruptive and public like a protest, but that is also joyous, fun and beautiful like a party. Because it's fun and crosses over with the counter-culture, it's a lot easier for a street party to attract a large crowd. A street party can effectively shut down a business district, in a positive, militant yet non-threatening way. Instead of handing out flyers about the world we want to build, street parties permit a revolutionary society to be conducted in the here and now, right on the street for all to see. Any passer-by recognizes that dancing is a lot better looking and more fun that smog-choked asphalt. The asphalt is what capitalism is all about creating; a world of enjoyment, art, music and social intercourse is what we're all about creating. So it is particularly ironic and interesting that the FBI considers these dance-based parties as a "terrorist" threat. Where is the terror? Where is the violence? As far as we know, no RTS street party has ever (1) exploded; (2) emitted poison gas; or (3) kidnapped anyone. It is true that there has been flagrant (1) dancing; (2) loud pulsing music; (3) flyers and banners; (4) public art; (5) kissing. While you might say it is scary seeing the weird guy with the spiky hair kissing the buff longshoreman type out in public, it isn't exactly terrorism. Maybe the terrorism is because auto traffic gets blocked. We have noticed that a car bombing, like a street party, stops traffic until the mess can get cleaned up. But we thought the FBI only got involved when there was something seriously illegal going on or people getting hurt. After wracking our brains, we figured it must be the video footage on Bay Area Reclaim the Streets' web page, which shows a car getting flipped over during the first street party held in the USA on May 16, 1998. (<http://xinet.com/rts>http://xinet.com/rts>) That street party was to protest the WTO, 18 months before Seattle. Just for the FBI's benefit (you're reading this because it has the newly "terrorist" word RTS in it, right?) that car was donated to us by a friend to help us block the street. We drove it into position in the middle of the streets, let the air out of the tires, and flipped it. It was just a prop. Kinda like art, ya know? We didn't flip all the cars in Berkeley, as much as they might deserve it, because, ya know, we're about having a good party, not getting into fist fights with innocent people who happen to park in the wrong place at the wrong time. Anyway, humor aside, the FBI terrorist listing is troubling. Getting branded a "terrorist" is usually a precursor to getting your ass shot off or thrown into prison for life, etc. What's next, Food Not Bombs on the "10 Most Wanted List" for conspiracy to commit lunch? At its heart, reclaiming the streets is radical and does have the potential to over throw the "American Way Of Life." What if instead of just having a street party once every three months with a few hundred people, there were thousands of autonomous cells everywhere organizing many street parties around the world every single day? Picture millions of people dropping out from capitalism living life for joy, not for their bosses. Imagine people more interested in partying in the streets (and disrupting business as usual) than partying in some capitalist club. Instead of billions of hours wasted on MTV in some suburb, what about billions of hours wasted partying down on the interstate highway while digging it up to plant crops, bringing the whole capitalist, techno machine to its knees! (While, ironically, listening to "techno" music!) I guess that's why the FBI is watching. [EMAIL PROTECTED] ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following was the original appeal for support for this effort. FROM THE DESK OF CLAYTON RUBY Re: LAWSUIT TARGETS USE OF "UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY" CHARGE On Wednesday, January 25, 2000 Brian Burch and Kevin Thomas launched a civil suit against the Toronto police force. They are seeking over $500,000 in specific and general damages as a result of their experiences when they were charged with Unlawful Assembly while present at a peaceful 1998 Reclaim the Streets protest in downtown Toronto. Taking this action was not an easy decision to make. However, it was felt that something had to be done to respond to the growing criminalization of public protest in Canada. Denial of Charter guarantees of the rights of assembly and expression should not go unchallenged. Thomas and Burch felt that allowing police broad-ranging power to detain people who are merely present at a peaceful demonstration can lead to even further injustices down the road. After many pre-trial appearances and a five-day trial, a mistrial was declared and the crown chose to withdraw the charges. Brian Shiller, a well respected civil lawyer, agreed to pursue a civil action arguing that charging the two defendants with unlawful assembly and proceeding to trial violated their Charter rights. With his guidance, a suit alleging violations of sections 2, 7, 8 and 9 of the charter was prepared and launched. The suit is against a number of individual officers, the Toronto Police Department and the Toronto Police Services Board. Legal actions are expensive. Defending the right to peacefully assembly and not be subject to arbitrary arrest is an ongoing battle of which this case is a small but potentially significant part. I urge all those concerned with civil liberties to financially assist Burch and Thomas in their efforts to fight back against police abuses. Cheques should be made payable to Brian Shiller in Trust and mailed to Shiller Layton Arbuck, 70 Bond Street, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1X3. Sincerely, Clayton Ruby >> ______________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
This spring we finished all the preliminaries in regards to the the lawsuit launched against the Toronto police by myself and Kevin Thomas. This lawsuit was launched as the result of our arrest on the charge of "Unlawful Assembly" which were laid as a result of our participation in the 1998 Reclaim the Streets Celebration in Toronto. The most recent hurdle, the examination for discovery, was an effort by both sides to examine witnesses and evidence that would be potentially used in court. Undertakings were made by both parties to provide additional evidence including, on my part, to try and provide copies of material I may have had posted around the 1998 RTS efforts in Toronto. This process was instructive in many ways. In my particular case, the police in their defence (through their lawyers) are alleging a leadership role as evidenced by, among other things, my writing about the RTS event and encouraging participation in it through web postings. This does have other potential connotations, especially in light of trial disclosures by police (in Hamilton around the 2000 Hamilton War Show and in Ottawa around the 1999 Homes Not Bombs action) that I seem to be a leader or organizer. While my ego doesn't mind the claim, I must confess I can barely organize my filing let alone a successful action. By the fall, we are hoping to have all the transcripts from the examination for discovery in hand and examined. We should then be in a position to finally set a date for trial. In light of recent developments (i.e. the detention of Jaggi Singh, the denial of bail for John Clarke), keeping alive a struggle for years is hard. There are new examples of the criminalizing of dissent that need to be addressed. One hopes that in dealing with the current crisis, one does not stop supporting other forms of resistance and activism against the the arrest of political activists. I was surprised to read the following piece on U.S. RTS movement. The following article gives some indication of the seriousness that the powers-that-be are taking an effort to attack the celebration of life and freedom in a public space. Note: Those wishing to help with defence costs can send donations to our lawyer. Cheques should be made payable to Brian Shiller in Trust and mailed to Shiller Layton Arbuck, 70 Bond Street, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1X3. Brian Burch [EMAIL PROTECTED] +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> posts: Reclaim the Streets NYC - http://www.rtsnyc.org News for Anarchists & Activists: <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo Is Dancing Terrorism? by PB Floyd Slingshot FBI brands Reclaim the Streets as "terrorists" - what the fuck have they been smoking?! In another sign that the growing anti-capitalist, anarchist, anti-car movement is gaining effectiveness, the FBI recently listed Reclaim the Streets amongst the "Threats of Terrorism to the United States." In a May 10 statement before the Senate Committees on Appropriations, Armed Services and Select Committee on Intelligence, FBI director Louis Freeh listed Reclaim the Streets as a "potential threat" to the United States along with assorted terrorists from Egypt and Lebanon. The report reads in part: "Anarchists and extreme socialist groups - many of which, such as the Workers' World Party, Reclaim the Streets, and Carnival Against Capitalism - have an international presence and, at times, also represent a potential threat in the United States. For example, anarchists, operating individually and in groups, caused much of the damage during the 1999 World Trade Organization ministerial meeting in Seattle." The list also included "extreme fringes of animal rights, environmental, anti-nuclear, and other political and social movements" as well as the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and the Earth Liberation Front (ELF). Getting included in such a list is always both a good and a bad sign: it means we're doing something right and are threatening the system, but it also vastly increases the likelihood of infiltration, frame-ups based on planted evidence, government-sponsored internal movement "splits," police use of deadly force, etc. Reclaim the Streets is actually more of a tactic than a movement or an organization. In 1996, activists in England decided to hold the first RTS "street party" by holding a day-time rave, complete with sound system, dancing, and party games, all with a political spin in a busy intersection. The party aimed to temporarily "reclaim" the street from cars and point out how capitalism and car culture deprive people of public space and opportunities for public festivals. The brilliant tactic rapidly caught on, and Reclaim the Streets street parties are now regularly carried out all over the globe. RTS goes beyond the limitations of the traditional "march and rally" protest by building coalition with the rave/dance/youth scene to create something that is disruptive and public like a protest, but that is also joyous, fun and beautiful like a party. Because it's fun and crosses over with the counter-culture, it's a lot easier for a street party to attract a large crowd. A street party can effectively shut down a business district, in a positive, militant yet non-threatening way. Instead of handing out flyers about the world we want to build, street parties permit a revolutionary society to be conducted in the here and now, right on the street for all to see. Any passer-by recognizes that dancing is a lot better looking and more fun that smog-choked asphalt. The asphalt is what capitalism is all about creating; a world of enjoyment, art, music and social intercourse is what we're all about creating. So it is particularly ironic and interesting that the FBI considers these dance-based parties as a "terrorist" threat. Where is the terror? Where is the violence? As far as we know, no RTS street party has ever (1) exploded; (2) emitted poison gas; or (3) kidnapped anyone. It is true that there has been flagrant (1) dancing; (2) loud pulsing music; (3) flyers and banners; (4) public art; (5) kissing. While you might say it is scary seeing the weird guy with the spiky hair kissing the buff longshoreman type out in public, it isn't exactly terrorism. Maybe the terrorism is because auto traffic gets blocked. We have noticed that a car bombing, like a street party, stops traffic until the mess can get cleaned up. But we thought the FBI only got involved when there was something seriously illegal going on or people getting hurt. After wracking our brains, we figured it must be the video footage on Bay Area Reclaim the Streets' web page, which shows a car getting flipped over during the first street party held in the USA on May 16, 1998. (<http://xinet.com/rts>http://xinet.com/rts>) That street party was to protest the WTO, 18 months before Seattle. Just for the FBI's benefit (you're reading this because it has the newly "terrorist" word RTS in it, right?) that car was donated to us by a friend to help us block the street. We drove it into position in the middle of the streets, let the air out of the tires, and flipped it. It was just a prop. Kinda like art, ya know? We didn't flip all the cars in Berkeley, as much as they might deserve it, because, ya know, we're about having a good party, not getting into fist fights with innocent people who happen to park in the wrong place at the wrong time. Anyway, humor aside, the FBI terrorist listing is troubling. Getting branded a "terrorist" is usually a precursor to getting your ass shot off or thrown into prison for life, etc. What's next, Food Not Bombs on the "10 Most Wanted List" for conspiracy to commit lunch? At its heart, reclaiming the streets is radical and does have the potential to over throw the "American Way Of Life." What if instead of just having a street party once every three months with a few hundred people, there were thousands of autonomous cells everywhere organizing many street parties around the world every single day? Picture millions of people dropping out from capitalism living life for joy, not for their bosses. Imagine people more interested in partying in the streets (and disrupting business as usual) than partying in some capitalist club. Instead of billions of hours wasted on MTV in some suburb, what about billions of hours wasted partying down on the interstate highway while digging it up to plant crops, bringing the whole capitalist, techno machine to its knees! (While, ironically, listening to "techno" music!) I guess that's why the FBI is watching. [EMAIL PROTECTED] ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following was the original appeal for support for this effort. FROM THE DESK OF CLAYTON RUBY Re: LAWSUIT TARGETS USE OF "UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY" CHARGE On Wednesday, January 25, 2000 Brian Burch and Kevin Thomas launched a civil suit against the Toronto police force. They are seeking over $500,000 in specific and general damages as a result of their experiences when they were charged with Unlawful Assembly while present at a peaceful 1998 Reclaim the Streets protest in downtown Toronto. Taking this action was not an easy decision to make. However, it was felt that something had to be done to respond to the growing criminalization of public protest in Canada. Denial of Charter guarantees of the rights of assembly and expression should not go unchallenged. Thomas and Burch felt that allowing police broad-ranging power to detain people who are merely present at a peaceful demonstration can lead to even further injustices down the road. After many pre-trial appearances and a five-day trial, a mistrial was declared and the crown chose to withdraw the charges. Brian Shiller, a well respected civil lawyer, agreed to pursue a civil action arguing that charging the two defendants with unlawful assembly and proceeding to trial violated their Charter rights. With his guidance, a suit alleging violations of sections 2, 7, 8 and 9 of the charter was prepared and launched. The suit is against a number of individual officers, the Toronto Police Department and the Toronto Police Services Board. Legal actions are expensive. Defending the right to peacefully assembly and not be subject to arbitrary arrest is an ongoing battle of which this case is a small but potentially significant part. I urge all those concerned with civil liberties to financially assist Burch and Thomas in their efforts to fight back against police abuses. Cheques should be made payable to Brian Shiller in Trust and mailed to Shiller Layton Arbuck, 70 Bond Street, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1X3. Sincerely, Clayton Ruby
