[van-discuss] Britannia Trial

[Maryann Abbs / Eric Doherty]

***Apologies for Cross-postings***

Call Out To Support Community Members Arrested at Britannia Police
Riot

Please come out and show your support for activists arrested at the Oct.
3, 2002
demonstration at the Britannia Community Centre.  Seven community
members are
on trial including journalist Murray Bush and minister George Feenstra.
It is very
important for people to come out and bear witness to this attempt by the
Vancouver
Police and BC Liberal government to repress political dissent and to
normalize police
brutality.

When:   Trial Starts MArch 8 at 9:30 am - for 3 weeks
Where: Adult Criminal Court – 222 Main Street

Background:

On October 3, 2002, a peaceful demonstration was held at Britannia
Community
Centre/Canucks Family Literacy Centre.  People gathered outside to
protest because
Gordon Campbell was invited to open a new Literacy Centre.  The opening
was invitation only and the majority of the community was excluded from
attending.  The demonstration was organized by Britannia parents, and
other
community groups, as a protest against government cuts to education and
childcare.

The protest began as a very relaxed affair and Campbell had already
cancelled his
attendance, but the atmosphere changed when United Church minister and
children’s
clown George Feenstra was arrested and brutalized by the Vancouver
Police.  The
crowd voiced their objection to this unlawful arrest and assault, and
the police
responded with violence.  In total, 9 people were arrested, including 2
juveniles.
Journalist Murray Bush was arrested while attempting to assist a child
who was being
assaulted by the Vancouver Police.

They took us in a paddy wagon to the back of the Canadian Tire parking
lot, murray
said.  There were at least 20 police officers in the parking lot and two
paddy wagons
and several police cars.  We were kept in the parking lot for about two
hours.  We
were taken out of the paddy wagon for 5 or 6 minutes each and had our
personal
belongings taken.  Our handcuffs were double locked.  Two of the people
in the van
were juveniles, one of them was the child. They were also handcuffed
behind their
backs.

Murray recalls that when they opened the door of the wagon, some of the
police
started shouting and swearing.  They were addressing the young man
sitting next to
him in the paddy wagon.  "That's the fucking one," one of the officers
shouted.
"Why don't you get out and we'll settle this now, tough guy" Murray
heard the
policeman scream, while at least 20 other policemen stood by, many
joining in. The
agitated officer finally said, "that's okay, we know where you live,
we'll take you out."
Vancouver Police now deny that the incident ever took place.

 The mistreatment continued at the jail: the arrestees were
stripsearched, asked if
they were "professional agitators," refused access to lawyers, and held
in
overcrowded cells.  Murray was held for 26 hours. The prisoners were
required to
sign conditions prior to release including no contact with the other
arrestees, and
preventing arrestees from being within 2 blocks of Gordon Campbell.
These types
of conditions are being used more frequently by the state in attempt to
break
political organizations and dissent.


Please attend this trial to demonstrate your support for the Britannia 9
and to show
the government and police that we have a right to political dissent and
a right to take
a stand against police harassment and brutality in our communities.

For More information contact:  edoherty at portal.ca or 604-877-1223