[IPSM] Shawn Brant's Bail Review: Free Bus from Toronto to Napanee

[stef at tao.ca]

PRISONERS' JUSTICE DAY 2007
-----------------------------

1. FREE BUS: Shawn Brant's Bail Review, Napanee
2. Court Support Against Police Brutality, Toronto
3. PJD Vigil at the Don Jail, Toronto

-----------------------------------------------------

1.  SHAWN BRANT'S BAIL REVIEW ON PRISONERS JUSTICE DAY

FREE BUS FROM TORONTO:
To reserve a seat, please call OCAP at 416.925.6939

DEPARTING TORONTO:

7AM, 1499 Queen Street West
(just west of lansdowne, south side of queen)

and

7:30AM, OCAP OFFICE, 10 Britain Street
(South of Sherbourne and Queen)

RETURNING TORONTO: Approximately 6PM

Shawn Brant's Bail Review on Prisoner Justice Day
- Message from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory

(Tyendinaga MT): On Friday August 10th, lawyers Peter Rosenthal &
Howard Morton will be arguing a bail review for Mohawk activist Shawn
Brant.  Shawn was denied bail on July 5th on charges from the June
29th Aboriginal Day of Action relating to the closure of the CN main
line, a provincial highway and the 401.

August 10th is also Prisoner Justice Day.  The roots of Prisoner
Justice Day date back to August 10th, 1975, when inmates at Millhaven
Institution refused to eat or work in memory of another inmate who had
died in segregation the year before.  Since then it has spread nationally
and internationally as a day to acknowledge those who have died inside
prison walls and those who have fought for the very few basic human rights
that prisoners currently have.

On August 10th, we ask people to join us at Shawn's bail review in
Napanee, Ontario to support his bid for release and to acknowledge the
ongoing struggles of our sisters and brothers in institutions across
the country.

BAIL REVIEW
Friday, August 10th, 2007 at 10am
Superior Court of Justice Courthouse
97 Thomas Street East, Napanee


Driving Directions from Toronto:

1. Drive HWY-401 east past Belleville, and Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory
(approx 2 hours from Toronto).
2. Exit 579 towards NAPANEE.
3. Turn LEFT onto PROVINCIAL ROUTE 41 / CENTRE ST N.
4. Turn LEFT onto THOMAS ST E.
5. Superior Court is at 97 Thomas Street East.

FROM TORONTO: Call OCAP to reserve a seat on the bus - 416.925.6939

2.  Court Support Against Police Brutality!

47 Sheppard Ave. East

In August 2004 at the  Liberal BBQ Action where OCAP members were
demanding decent housing and increased social assistance rates, Jen
was assaulted by a male cop and sustained a serious head injury.  When
she was released from hospital the cops arrested her (concussion and
all) and charged her with assaulting them. Luckily, video evidence
proved that they were lying and Jen's charges were dropped.

Thursday's court proceedings should actually be pretty exciting as
Jen's lawyer, Jackie Esmonde, will be cross-examining the cop that
assaulted Jen and all the cops who created silly stories to lie about
what happened (such as that Jen was pulled backward by fellow OCAP
members and landed upside down on her own head...).  This case has
some legal significance because Jen is not only suing for assault, but
for conspiracy as well.  That means, if she wins, there will be a
precedent set saying that there are consequences for cops who lie to
cover up the violence of other cops.

The court proceedings start at 10am at 47 Sheppard Ave. East.  Take
the subway to the Sheppard station and walk a short distance east.
Don't feel like you have to come out for the whole day, come for the
morning, or the afternoon, or however long you can spare.

For more info call the OCAP office at 416.925.6939


3.  PRISONERS' JUSTICE DAY VIGIL 2007

Friday, August 10, 2007
6:30pm - 9:00pm (Opening: 7pm sharp)
Outside the Toronto Don Jail
550 Gerrard St. East, Toronto

WHAT IS PRISONERS' JUSTICE DAY?

August 10th, 2007 marks the 32nd year of PJD.  August 10th is the day
prisoners have set aside as a day to fast and refuse to work in a show of
solidarity to remember those who have died behind bars. It is a day when
folks in the community hold demonstrations, vigils, worship services and
other events in solidarity with prisoners. August 10th is a day to raise
public awareness of the demands made by prisoners to change the criminal
injustice system, the brutal conditions that lead to so many prison deaths,
and is a chance to publicly oppose prison and police violence.

Prisoners Justice Day has become a space to talk about the disproportionate
numbers of marginalized people being held in detention; specifically First
Nations and Indigenous peoples, Racialized people, Transgendered and
Transsexual people, Sex workers, people with Disabilities and other folks
marginalized by systems of oppression and violence.

WHY COME OUT TO PJD?

Toronto is building a sustained prisoners' justice movement focused on
justice not jails! Come out and remember the lives of the many prisoners and
ex-prisoners who have died inside and outside of various incarceration and
detention prisons, jails, hospitals and centres.

Show your support for the many courageous prisoners, ex-prisoners, and their
allies, and help in the fight for justice not jails!

Currently confirmed speakers and performers include Toronto Harm Reduction
Task Force, Coalition Against Psychiatric Assault, Audrey Redman, Osa Eribo,
Sex Professionals of Canada, recordings from prisoners across Ontario,
Richard Lathwell, Trevor Gray, Maria Kasstan, Wabowe Whitebird and the PARC
Drumming Group. Share your thoughts in the Open Mic.  More will be announced
soon.