[mobglob-discuss] Britannia Update #3

[Maryann Abbs / Eric Doherty]

BRITANNIA TRIAL UPDATE #3 - December 13, 2003

Police and Prosecution Punish Defendants

The Britannia Trial has wrapped up for a month and is set to resume
again on January 20.  More days are also tentatively set in late
March/early April.  The prosecution continues to drag out this trial and
punish defendants by forcing them to spend a huge amount of time, money
and emotional resources.  So far, the state has called fewer than half
of its' witnesses - we can expect to hear
from at least 14 more police officers.

We have not heard any real evidence to substantiate the charges against
the Britannia 9.  We have
heard, however, that the police agree that the demonstration was calm
and relaxed until George Feenstra was arrested during his clown act.
Police Constable Green, one of the two cops who took Feenstra into
custody,  admitted on the stand that he wouldn't have arrested Reverend
Feenstra - that his partner, officer Pacey, was being overzealous.

We heard another officer admit that he "straight-armed" (punched in the
face)
 the young boy who was later arrested. Officer Harty admitted grabbing
the boy he thought was 11 by the neck. The police also testified that
they had as many as 60 armed officers at the demonstration because
Commercial Drive is known in the force as an "anti-police" area.

What we have heard so far is pretty clear.  People gathered to protest
Gordon Campbell  - when Gordon Campbell announced that he was no longer
coming, the police should simply have left the area.  Instead, they
provoked an incident by arresting and assaulting community elder George
Feenstra, and they again reacted violently when the crowd objected to
his arrest.  The police are punishing the community for standing up to
police violence and daring to suggest that that the police were in the
wrong.  They are also attempting to criminalize dissent and protest by
continuing to press forward with charges of unlawful assembly and
causing a disturbance.

Watch for more news about court dates and other ways to get involved!






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