[van-announce] 3 Arrested at City Budget Meeting Shut Down

[Anti-Poverty Committee]

***Please forward widely, sorry for cross-postings***

               City Budget Meeting Shut Down, 3 arrested

This evening, a powerful march made of Anti-Poverty Committee members and
supporters and led by the Elders Council arrived at the Central Library
Branch, where the city was attempting to hold a public consultation on
proposed budget expenditures.  The event had been organized to protest the
budget items on the agenda – specifically an additional $20 million of
City funds to be put into an Olympic slush fund.

Security and police attempted to keep demonstrators out of the building
and there was a brief stand-off that broke as a few protesters managed to
get in through another door.  At this point, police grabbed APC organizer
David Cunningham and attempted to arrest him.  David was successfully
de-arrested by others and the march continued into the building.

The demonstration went into the library building and down to the basement
area where the budget consultation was being held.  The space in front of
the room was held and after about 10 minutes of chanting, APC members
attempted to get into the meeting room.  At that point, police violently
prevented people from entering the room and pepper-sprayed the group
without warning.  In the meantime, the group was successful in breaking
through the police into the room where the meeting was being held and shut
the meeting down, shouting down City Councillor Peter Ladner.

In the scuffle with police, several people had been badly sprayed and
needed medical attention and ambulances were called.  While in the
bathroom, trying to get pepper-spray off APC member Peter Haywood was
arrested and taken out.  Police assured everyone that paramedics were on
their way.  In fact, calls to 911 confirmed that paramedics had already
arrived and were being stopped from entering the building by the police.

At this point, APC attempted to leave the building peacefully.  While the
group was leaving the building, the police targeted two members – Katie
Dyck and David Cunningham and arrested them.  Remaining demonstrators
gathered and left as a group to prevent others from being targeted and
picked off by police.

At this point, legal counsel are trying to find out what charges are being
pressed against the arrestees.  We are expecting everyone to be released
tomorrow, but it is difficult to say without knowing what charges are
being laid or what conditions are being put forward.  We will post any
updates over e-mail and on our website.

The occupation of the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre (DEWC) is on-going,
and volunteer support is needed.  To get involved in helping women keep
the Centre open, or to make donations please contact Bernie and the women
at DEWC at 778-861-4979, 604-681-8480, ext. 222 or by e-mail
skundaal at yahoo.ca.


There is an APC general meeting tomorrow evening (Tuesday, November 21) at
6pm at 327 Carrall Street.




-- 
The Anti-Poverty Committee is an organization of poor and working people,
who fight for poor people, their rights and an end to poverty by any means
necessary.  For more information on the Anti-Poverty Committee's on-going
campaigns, visit http://apc.resist.ca/home.  Contact us by e-mailing
apc at resist.ca or phoning 604-682-3276.


                           UNITED WE WILL WIN!