[news] Montreal: WTO PROTESTS MET WITH POLICE PURSUITS, MASS ARRESTS

[resist]

-----Forwarded Message-----
From: global solidarity <globalsolidarity at gmx.net>
To: pga @ riseup <pga at riseup.net>
Cc: chicagodan at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [pga] Montreal: WTO PROTESTS MET WITH POLICE PURSUITS, MASS ARRESTS
Date: 29 Jul 2003 20:49:48 +0200


>
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
> WTO PROTESTS MET WITH POLICE PURSUITS, MASS ARRESTS
>
> Montreal, July 28, 2003.
>
> Building on weeks of popular education and organizing, activists took to
> the streets today to protest the policies of the WTO during its
> Mini-Ministerial in Montreal which is taking place until July 30th. The
> activist moblization, linked to global movements resisting the basic
> injustices brought on by the transnational movement of capital also took a
> stand yesterday during the No One is Illegal Demonstration to defend the
> rights of free movement and refuge for populations from less priviledged
> countries. Closely watched by communities opposing corporate
> globalization, news of the protest is being simultaneously streamed in
> text, audio and video through a worldwide network of independent media
> centres such as quebec`s www.cmaq.net.
>
>
> SNAKE MARCHES
>
> At 7:30 am this morning, hundreds of marchers left in two groups from
> Norman-Bethune Square and Phillips Square converging at the security
> perimiter surrounding the Sheraton Hotel (where the WTO is meeting is
> being held) at the corner of Peel and Rene-Levesque. At around 8:50 am,
> police in riot gear declared the march an ``illegal assembly`` and rushed
> the crowds causing protestors to disperse into smaller groups which fled
> throughout the downtown core.
>
>
> ARREST OF JAGGI SINGH
>
> During today`s actions, Montreal activist Jaggi Singh was providing media
> with interviews and staying away from the Sheraton Hotel in accordance
> with his legal conditions. Nevertheless, though he was not involved with
> the marches, at 9:10 am on the corner of Peel and Ste. Catherine, about a
> dozen police converged on Jaggi and apprehended him for ``unlawful
> assembly``. Several witness were on hand and can attest to the fact that
> Singh was singled out.
>
>
> MASS ARRESTS AT THE ``GREEN ZONE``
>
> Meanwhile, police pursued protestors throughout the downtown core; several
> were apprehended in small groups by roving police squads. Many others
> sought refuge at and around The Alternative Bookstore on St. Laurent just
> south of Sherbooke. This Bookstore was meant was to serve as a space for
> alternative radio broadcast and popular education during the protests as
> well as a predetermined GREEN ZONE (a place for peaceful assembly away
> from the marches). Though far away from the security perimeter and the
> marches, police came to encircle the Green Zone at 10:30 am and began
> arresting around 200 people for unlawful assembly loading them into two
> waiting buses. Among the arrested was one independent journalist. No
> injuries stemming from arrests have been reported.
>
>
> PROPERTY DAMAGE
>
> Several from among the demonstrators broke windows at downtown locations
> of The Gap, Buger King and an Army Recruitment Centre. These targets were
> not indiscriminate. The Gap is being targetted by activists
> internationally for its labour practices while the Recruitment Centre was
> targetted as a symbol of militarism- war, post Iraq, being linked more and
> more with the violence of the global economy addressed by activists.
>
> www.cmaq.net