Most prisoners released, Jaggi Singh`s detention, the Germinal bail hearing, police pressure on CLAC & CASA

Quebec 2001 : preliminary thoughts on the many layers of police repression

Wednesday April 25 : most prisoners released, solidarity is strong

After three long days of hearings, bail has been arranged for almost all of the 450 people arrested during the Summit of the Americas protests. People are expected to be released before the end of the night. The court, which seats 70 people, was packed for most of the day.

Solidarity with the prisoners is very much in effect! A solidarity camp outside the Orsainville Prison is holding strong with at least 30 people. Today, the campers invited media to view the alternative community they are building and to demonstrate how important their ongoing presence is. Many people who have been released have testified that knowing the camp was out there lifted their spirits, and several have stayed with the camp to continue to provide food, medical and legal help, music and hugs to people when they get out.

Also today, the CLAC & CASA called a protest outside the Palais de Justice. About 100 people spent their lunch hour banging drums and waving colourful signs and banners. Yesterday in Montreal, several hundred people marched calling for freedom for the prisoners!

Throughout the last few days, there have been lots of powerful signs of solidarity that crossed many political lines. Everyone from the Northeast Federation of Anarchist Collectives, to the Mobilization for Global Justice, to the Canadian Labour Congress, have kicked in to help raise bail for people without money – not to mention the dozens of friends and family who helped get loved ones out of jail. The CAW has been distributing VIA rail vouchers to help people get home. The solidarity camp has played an essential role in connecting with people as they emerge from the hell-hole that has been Orsainville.

Political Detention – Jaggi Singh

Many (especially of the media) were at the Palais de Justice today to witness the hearing of Jaggi Singh, who was arrested on Friday afternoon. Jaggi was accused of being the “leader“ of the black bloc. Specifically he is charged with possessing a weapon – the celebrated catapult, which flung stuffed animals over the perimeter fence to the delight of many protestors. Police say that molotov cocktails were launched from this mediaeval weapon, a charge which is hotly denied by everyone involved. Jaggi is also charged with violating the conditions of his release on previous charges.

Judy Rebick flew in from Toronto to testify for Jaggi. She said that she`d arranged the money that paid for the catapult and that she was sure Jaggi had nothing to do with it, and that furthermore the catapult was incapable of launching anything heavier than a teddy bear.

On his own behalf, Jaggi stressed that his main political work is in popular education, writing, presentations and so on. He said that while he supports of diversity of tactics, he himself is “non-violent“ and he rejects attempts by the police to paint him as some kind of dangerous character. The judge abruptly ended the hearing during this portion of Jaggis testimony. The audience groaned. The hearing will begin again tomorrow (Thursday).

Germinal – report from Monday`s bail hearing

Also still being detained, at least until their next hearing on May 22, are five of the six men of the “Germinal“ group. People should remember them from the mainstream media – they were picked up last week, before the Summit of the Americas protests, and accused of “conspiracy to commit mischief endangering life“ and “illegal possession of military equipment“. They are referring to “Thunderflashes“, non-destructive cardboard tubes which burst with a bang and a flash but are not particularly dangerous. One “Germinalien“ is also charged with stealing the devices from a military base.

It was front page news when the police made the arrests. The Thunderflashes were described as “explosives“ and the police pretended they had prevented a major terrorist attack. On Monday, during their bail hearing, it became clear that this was a massive exaggeration. It is suggested now that the group had planned to light the Thunderflashes in one location to divert police so that others could breach the security perimeter, run inside, and read a manifesto.

Most creepy about the Monday hearing was the description of the infiltration of this political collective. Police testified they had been surveilling the group for several months. Aware that one guy was looking for a job, they created a fake company and advertised for a delivery person. He was hired and found himself driving food between Montreal and Quebec City – with a cop in the same car! The two ended up being “friends“ and in this way the cop got access to the whole group of anarchist militants, and participated in the strategizing for the upcoming Summit.

Certainly there will be a lot more to say about this case, as people analyze the role of the agent in the group. What is clear for the moment is that these individuals suffered a massive invasion of their privacy and political freedoms, and are now being held in prison for another month, more because of their politics than any “criminal“ activity. And they missed the Summit of the Americas!

Diversity of Tactics – Military Response?

Another level of the police repression of political dissent was evident in the police response to the CLAC/CASA demonstration on Sunday, April 22, just before the end of the Summit of the Americas. 300-400 people gathered at Laval University, and then marched to the Ministry of Security to demonstrate their solidarity with political prisoners and to stand behind the events of the weekend. “Police repression won`t stop our action!“ Speakers expressed their pride and their sense of empowerment, as well as their horror and disgust at the police brutality.

The police response, while not physical, was nevertheless very intense. First of all, the CLAC and CASA organizers were (and continue to be) nervous about possible arrests on the same kind of charges which Jaggi is facing. Certainly the police know who they are. It was a testament to their political commitment that they planned this march at all, even as skirmishes with police continued closer to downtown.

About 10 minutes into the march, we saw a Sûreté de Quebec contingent guarding a shop in a swanky shopping mall. About forty strong, the contingent was armed with batons and guns of some type – most likely plastic bullet launchers. The contingent then began marching, in military formation, along the strip mall, and then fell in beside the demonstration as it continued up the street. When the demo stopped, the SQ stopped, on orders of their leader at the front. It became almost a game, and speakers didn`t lose the opportunity to point out the comedy of the situation.

As the demonstration approached the Ministry of Security, one could see that another 200 SQ officers were guarding the building – not in the customary manner (along the sidewalks, strolling around, learning against walls, talking to each other etc.). No, these SQ were stationed at regular intervals, about 10 feet apart, around the edge of the building, following the topography of the landscape, in bushes and flowerbeds, their helmets and masks completely covering their faces. They were all in a consistent military stance, feet spread shoulder width, arms holding weapons at the ready.

This was not a standard police response. This was a military response – symbolic for now but nevertheless a clear warning to anyone who dares to initiate a rebellion that resonates with working class and disenfranchised communities, who stands behind that rebellion, and who breaks the boundaries of “peaceful and legitimate dissent“ as prescribed by the authorities.

We are looking at sophisticated and multi-layered police repression. Months of police intimidation and surveillance; wholesale police brutality and violation of civil rights; the inevitable months of political trials that will follow. People showed incredible courage in the face of these challenges. Determined to organize in this environment, we have to analyze and synthesize what`s gone down, and learn to protect themselves.

If you have insights or information to share, please write to ckln-news@sac.ryerson.ca!