Following investigation into a political protest which took place on September 29 against PPC leader Maxime Bernier’s talk at Mohawk College, Hamilton Police Services began a repressive crackdown against left activists.
As of today, four antifascists have been arrested and charged in relation to the protest. V was arrested walking out of class the morning of Wednesday, October 23rd. They are facing charges for one count “theft under $5000” and one count “disguised with intent.” These charges are for allegedly removing a Canadian flag from an armed fascist’s hockey stick, modified to become a baton-style weapon. This fascist is apparently a member of the neo-Nazi Canadian Nationalist Party and is known for burning a Qu’ran at a PEGIDA rally in Toronto; appearing at protests armed and armoured and invoking an eagerness to fight; praising Alexandre Bissonnette, perpetrator of the Quebec mosque shooting; and offering cash incentives for people to join white supremacist rallies.
There is no doubt that this is a continuation of the HPS siding with racist, hyper-nationalist bigots as we saw with its persecution of Pride defenders this summer. The most serious charge V is facing, one that others are charged with too, i.e. “masked with intent” is part of a long-standing HPS tradition to harshly enforce the criminalization of concealed identity as protests. That V, alongside others charged, has experienced doxxing locally and throughout the United States (for some leading to physical attacks) demonstrates the necessity of protecting one’s identity and the importance of combating efforts to criminalize such.
We are asking the community to come forward and support V in covering their extensive legal costs to combat these charges, and to likewise extend that support to others charged. It is vitally important that we defend our right to protest and do not let police limit efforts by deciding for us what tactics are acceptable. It is our duty to prevent police from setting precedent for future harsh and arbitrary repression against our community and new generations of activists. That means unequivocally supporting the Hamilton 4 charged without falling into traps of respectability politics and supporting police efforts to fracture and alienate solidarity efforts.
Please donate if you have means to spare and share widely!
Solidarity forever.
The first $1500 is for an estimated mandatory deposit to secure a lawyer on retainer (legal costs quickly accumulate on top of this.) Any remaining funds not used for legal costs incurred will go towards the other antifascists charged and/or into community organizing projects.
