[opirgyork] Eleven People Arrested: OCAP Rallies Against Cut to the Special Diet

[opirg at yorku.ca]

Please forward widely

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 21, 2010

Eleven People Arrested: OCAP Rallies Against Cut to the Special Diet

COME OUT TOMRROW IN SUPPORT!
WHERE: College Park Courthouse (south-west corner of Yonge & College)
WHEN: 10:30 am (Thursday, July 22nd, 2010)

Today, the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) demonstrated against
the devastating cut to the Special Diet benefit and to demand that the
Liberal Government raise welfare rates by at least 55% - the minimum
amount required to restore rates to where they were before the cut by
Harris in 1995.

During today's rally, over 300 people took to the streets, while a smaller
group of people went in to the Liberal Party headquarters, to deliver an
‘invoice’ to the Liberal Party – demanding full re-payment of benefits
taken from people living on social assistance.

The delegation of people who entered the Provincial Liberals HQ went to
deliver a message about the impact of the cuts on poor people. Rather than
receive this message, the powers that be chose to enforce their austerity
measures with police action. Shortly after the group entered, Toronto
Police arrested all 11 people, OCAP members, allies, and labour activists.

Two people were released, while the other 9 remain in custody tonight.

"I went to the demonstration to demand the the special diet not be cut and
that welfare and ODSP rates be raised 55% for those of us on social
assistance. Instead, I was arrested and the police called me "a pawn"
because I am disabled. I am not a pawn. Disabled people fight against
governments that make and keeps us poor everyday, and we will fight until
we win enough money to eat healthy food and pay our rents," said Anne
Abbot, an OCAP member who was released with a tresspass summons rather
than being charged, because she uses a wheelchair.

This latest arrest and detention of activists comes only a few weeks after
the mass arrest of over 1000 anti-G20 protesters.  “The G20 leaders met in
Toronto to call for austerity measures just like the cuts to welfare in
Ontario,” said OCAP organizer Liisa Schofield. “Nobody should be surprised
when the police are once again called in to crush public outcry against
these kinds of policies.”

Come out on Thursday morning to support those facing charges.

We demand the immediate release of all people being held and the dropping
of all charges. We demand that the LIberal government raise welfare rates
by at least 55%.

Media Contact: 416-826-4796

COME OUT TOMRROW IN SUPPORT!
WHERE: College Park Courthouse (south-west corner of Yonge & College)
WHEN: 10:30 am (Thursday, July 22nd, 2010)

               **
 Ontario Coalition Against Poverty
 10 Britain St. Toronto, ON  M5A 1R6
416-925-6939  ocap at tao.ca www.ocap.ca