[IPSM] OPP attack Pregnant Woman at Grassy

[andres at riseup.net]

Dead in Custody:
Ontario Provincial Police Score Another Point for the Canadian Genocide

OPP Excessive Force Causes Death of Native Child
(please distribute Widely)

I have been requested to inform people of a medical emergency happening to
a Native activist right now. The information is still limited but here is
what I have been told so far. The OPP's physical attack on Nisha's is
causing to suffer through a traumatic miscarriage. The OPP's attack has
just caused the death of Nisha's child. There is no clearer way to say
this. "

A Native delegation, from the community of Six Nation, Ont, traveled by
van, to an anti-logging protest organized by non-native environmentalist
located near Grassy Narrows, Ont. This delegation traveled there to show
their support for the environmental issue and against the devastating
actions of a corporate state.

The environmental activists conducted a peaceful protest action to raise
the awareness around the issue of clear-cutting and de-forestation. As is
always the case in these situations the protestors were met with a police
presence. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to the protest by
using the tactics of subterfuge and force. Since it was a peaceful protest
the OPP assured the protestors that there will be no use of force and that
no one will be arrested. This was a lie.

Shortly after the protest the OPP followed and pulled over the van
containing the delegation from Six Nations. The Natives were violently
arrested. OPP used excessive force in the act of detaining the group. This
use of excessive force to arrest the Native protestors had a traumatic
result. One member of the Six Nation's delegation, a Native woman named
Nisha, was pregnant at the time of the arrest. Her pregnancy did not deter
the OPP officers from using force to arrest her. She was roughed up and
mistreated.

The OPP's physical attack on Nisha's is causing to suffer through a
traumatic miscarriage. The OPP's attack has just caused the death of
Nisha's child. There is no clearer way to say this.

Nisha is a dedicated young activist who turned to political activism out
of a deep compassion for her people and to stop the injustices we, as
Native people face. She, as well as her unborn child, are being violently
persecuted by the OPP for her noble passion for freedom from colonial
oppression.
This tactic of police violence directed at Native activists, who are
courageous enough to stand up for their people to right the horrible
wrongs of 500 years of colonialism, is obviously used to inspire fear from
our people to force them to remain silent in their oppression. This tactic
of police violence against Native activists to suppress their voice has to
stop immediately! This act of police violence cannot go unnoticed or
unpunished leaving Nisha to suffer alone.

As I write this letter Nisha is still incarcerated in an OPP jail in
Kenora, Ont. She still has not received medial treatment.

Others accompanied Nisha in the van are also still incarcerated and their
van has been confiscated as well.

A second van was also pulled over with the occupants arrested and van
confiscated. The total number of activists arrested is still yet
undetermined, as is the charges that they may face. There has not been any
answer from the OPP concerning anyone being charged or what kind of
charges they will be. Keep in mind this was a short peaceful protest with
no acts of violence from any protestor.

This deplorable act by the OPP raises some very important questions for
Native people.

Was the use of OPP violence to conduct an arrest justifiable when all that
the Six nation's delegation did was attend a peaceful protest?

Considering the Native protestors did not commit any violence or any
criminal offences, these possible charges (if any) cannot be of any great
importance. Could the OPP just have peacefully served a warrant at the
Native protestors homes to show up in court to instead?

Were the Six Nation's delegation "Targets of Opportunity" for the OPP to
grab, harass and persecute when they had a chance?

Will more key members of the Six Nation's protest be subjected to
continued violent police persecution and harassment?

Knowing they have just caused a death, will the OPP trump up charges
against the Native protestors as a way of "justifying" their arrest and
the police use of excessive force?

Is the tactic of police violence utilized against Native people to
suppress our promotion of the truths of colonial oppression justifiable?

Do we allow these government sponsored and directed acts of violence
against are people to continue?

Do we continue to accept the illusion that the Canadian police forces are
here to protect and serve Native people too?

Why is it so necessary for the Canadian government to ensure that Native
people suffer under the conditions "over-policing" and "over-enforcement"?
>From the highest rates of violent arrests? From the highest incarcerations
rates? From the longest prison terms? And from the highest death tolls
caused by the Canadian police forces?

I encourage everyone to look into the history of Canadian police forces in
particular the history of their relationship with Native people and draw
your own conclusions.

I ask of you to support Nisha in her time of suffering. An update to this
letter will be sent out with possible points of contact for anyone who
wishes to help Nisha.

Don't let Nisha and her unborn child be forgotten and forsaken.

Imsit Noolgama (All my Relations), Sakej
Wolf Clan, Mi'kmaq Nation



-- 
Andrew Bresnahan
Human Rights Office - Events Coordinator
Central Students Association
University of Guelph
x52629

andres at riseup.net (personal)
csahr at uoguelph.ca (CSA HRO)