[LabComm] Stop the farce! Support the Britannia 9

[Louise LeClair]

March 22, 2004
Stop the Farce Now
Drop the Charges against the Britannia 9!


Vancouver‹A group formed to support the Britannia 9 will defiantly don clown
noses and gather in front of the courthouse at 222 Main Street at 4:30 p.m.
on Tuesday, March 23. They are gathering to draw attention to the farce
taking place inside the courthouse as the sixth week of another Vancouver
trial featuring police brutality gets underway.

The trial focuses on the five members of the Britannia 9 still facing
charges as a result of their participation in a political protest against
Gordon Campbell¹s cuts to education that took place in East Vancouver on
October 3, 2003. The remaining five, all of whom have pleaded not guilty on
all counts, are being forced to defend themselves against a number of
charges including assaulting police officers. Among the five is George
Feenstra, the United Church Minister whose major crime seems to have been
wearing a clown nose during the protest.

Six charges were recently dropped due to lack of evidence. ³It¹s time to
drop the rest of the charges in this farce of criminal justice.² says
Maryann Abbs spokesperson for the group organized to raise awareness about
the trial and to raise money in support of the five remaining defendants in
this case.  ³Everyone has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.² says Abbs,
³³Thousands of dollars have already been wasted on this show trial. The
issue is really about freedom to conduct political protest.²

            Since the 2002 political protest at the Britannia Community
Centre, the Vancouver Police have been criticized, and in some cases charged
in court, in connection with their chosen methods of controlling activities,
particularly on Vancouver¹s east side. ³The case of the Britannia 9 is a
significant example of why the Vancouver Police seem to be buried in scandal
these days,² says Abbs. ³ And no amount of public relations will be able to
cover up the fact that the Vancouver Police Force is out of control.²

            The group organizing the protest and other events in support of
the Britannia 9 is inviting people to purchase a clown nose to support the
Britannia 9 to join the protest on Tuesday (March 23) and to attend other
fundraising events.

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Information:  Maryann Abbs 604.877.2233 or Tammy Tupechka 604.258.0229