Please read and sign this letter requesting that Crown Prosecutors drop all charges against the concerned citizens targeted by Hamilton police while standing in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en water protectors. Use the form at the bottom of this page to add your name!

Ontario Court of Justice
To Whom it May Concern;

In the last few years the number of charges Hamilton Police are laying against protesters using civil disobedience within their environmental campaigns has ramped up. We have especially noticed this regarding individuals involved in protests or actions that are in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en people, who are protecting their territory in BC.

The Wet’suwet’en are an Indigenous Nation who have not ceded their territory, as recognized by the Supreme Court of Canada in Delgamuukw v British Columbia, [1997] 3 SCR 1010, and so – as laid out within that ruling - retain their right to control what happens on their territory. Unfortunately, a corporation is constructing a large pipeline through their territory that will detrimentally contribute to climate change, risk the Wet’suwet’en people, as well as cause permanent destruction to the land, water, cultural areas and history.

We voice our great concern to you – the office of the crown prosecution – over the increased frequency of charges being laid by Hamilton Police against individuals who stand with this Indigenous Nation. It appears to us - the signatories of this letter - that the police, and court by way of choosing to prosecute individuals unnecessarily, are working to criminalize the act of protesting and deter individuals’ support of the Wet’suwet’en Nation.
Disruption and dissent have - and continue to be - essential to the betterment of our Nation.
We believe that continuing to prosecute Shawn Selway and Patricia Mills - individuals who have both been charged with mischief for their alleged actions in solidarity with the Wet’sweut’en - to be inherently against the public interest which the crown is tasked to represent.

In particular, we believe that pursuing new charges against Shawn Selway for allegedly painting a road in Hamilton in support of the Wet’suwet’en as he battles stage 4 cancer is unconscionable and should not be continued within the process of the courts. To do so risks even the basic public respect for the courts and our legal system.

We – the writers and signatories of this letter – encourage you to drop all charges against these two people. We understand that this ability – and responsibility - now lies solely with the crown. We also understand that extensive precedent exists to allow the crown to withdraw charges that are not in the best interest of the public to pursue. Public concern and encouragement has led to the dropping of charges against police officers, journalists, and houseless individuals who were over-ticketed.

Please respect the right to protest and consider the better public good. Drop the charges.

Respectfully,
Signatories are listed below​

Jim Quinn, Professor, McMaster University. 
Ria Kleiman
Don McLean, Hamilton Gallery of Distinction; Honourary Doctor of Laws 
Rochelle Smith
Nathan Savelli, Master of Arts
Rita Bailey 
Atif Kubursi, Emeritus Professor McMaster University
Paul Costello
Ken Stone, Treasurer, Hamilton Coalition To Stop The War
Bruce Allen, Paralegal
John Kirk
Peter Appleton
Miriam Sager
Irene Schieberl
Ali Jones, BSW
Frances Murray
Max Brett, Teacher
Timothy Bergen
Laura Palumbo
Joshua Tabh, PhD. Environmental and Life Sciences
Chris Gusen
Alex Wilson
Omorowa Eguakun, Coordinator of Volunteer Programming and Community Engagement, OPIRG Guelph
Emma Cole
Carolina Gama
Dr. Egla Martinez, Associate professor, Human Rights and Social Justice, Carleton University
Scott Neigh
Henry Evans-Tenbrinke
Quin Lawrence
Iqra Abid
Brian Dias, Unifor Delegate Local 1459
Andrew Levine
Wayne Poole
Jessica Vorstermans, PhD, School of Health Policy & Management, York University
Catherine Clase, Professor of Medicine, McMaster University
Arlene Slocombe, Executive Director - Water Watchers
Bryce Kanbara, You Me Gallery
Catherine Brown, MA, MEd, B.Ed, retired teacher
Adrienne Lee
Steve Chalastra
Kay Basham, Member of Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War
Cynthia Meyer, Cofounder of Community Permaculture Lab
Amy Gowling, R/TRO
Dr. George Sorger
Jennifer Sherwood
Doreen Nicoll
Nancy Hurst
RACHELLE SENDER, MD, CCFP, FCFP
Olivia Watkin-McClurg
Veronique Audette, Charity Directorate, the Ascension Foundation
Susan Wortman, BSc, MLIS, Registered Psychotherapist
Rose Janson, MA
Jason Hindle
Peter and Shirley Hutton
Darren Ranawaka, McMaster University Student 
Sue Markey, Retired teacher
Anusha Gulatee
Don Brown
Roberta McGregor, Masters degree in Anthropology/President and Volunteer Coordinator for Recycling Revisited Inc.
Douglas Rich USWA LU.1005, Retired
Jean Jacobs
Jill Nielsen
Kathleen Chung, MA, University of Toronto
Ed Reece
Amy Angelo
Leanne Grieves, PhD
David Mivasair, Rabbi
Esme Allen-Creighton
Sonia Mataj
Becky Katz
Francesca Morreale
Nicole Jessome
Jess Glegg
Kelsey Burns
Maia De Graff
Lia Hamelin
Susan Radford, BSc. BSW
Connor Bennett
Linda Lannigan, Fix Our World
Keisha Quinn
Cole Nielsen, Student
Nala Ismacil, Torch - Toronto Coalition for Housing 
Julia Karpiuk
Scooter Jay
Rachel Dubeckyj
Ian Walker
Jeanette Eby
Dorar Abuzaid
Ronald Clayden
Dan Ashworth
Theo Vittore
Souheil Benslimane, Abolitionist
Vania Pagniello
Destiny Pitters
Sherly Kyorkis, Ward 7 Resident, Hamilton
Arwen Ballentine
Nancy Dingwall
Lorraine Green, Co-Chair, Grandmothers Act to Save the Planet GASP
Alex Jacobs-Blum
Rehoboth Dekamo
Robinson Inkster
Kayla Hagerty, B.A
Jill Fran
Jim Fitzgerald
Judy Snider
Teba Faisal
Brian Tammi
Kristen McMinn
David Nguyen
Hailey Dash
Alison Pipe
Megan Myke
Elliot Currie
Riley Wignall
Emily Hubbard
Kostyn Petrunick, B.A., M.A.
Emma Ditchburn
Rachelle Gibbs, RECE
Gillian Fenwick, BSocSc Public Administration; Co-Chair of the Capital Pride Youth Committee
Haley Reap
SG Hurlburt
Raquelle Bultje
Meaghan Ross, Staff, Southern Ontario Human Rights and Equity Office 
Laura Stewart
Stoness Verda
Shelley Stevens, B.A. M.Ed. 
Jeff Higson
Gail Lorimer
Alex Verman
Sarah Perkins, OMP, M.OMSc, B.Sc, Co-Director of Flourish Therapy Practices
James Lambert
Josie Rudderham
Emmali Branton
Alexandra Weinberger
Sophia Foss
Katherine Walker-Jones
Riley Pineros
Meaghan Hannah
Amy Notdorft
M Davies RPN
Susie O'Brien, Professor, McMaster University
Shunmathi Shan
Eshan Merali
Kevin Intini
Mymoon Bhuiyan, Project Coordinator Mac Divest
Tyler MacDonald
Stephanie Springgay Director, School of the Arts McMaster
Nafisa Afsara Chowdhury
Craig Cassar
Zoe Keary-Matzner
Alex Wagstaffe, PhD student McMaster University 
Aseja Dava
Felicia Smith
Anthony Matthews
Sonya Fedotcheva
Steacy Easton
Ailidh Gray
Apryl Lark
Justine Kiely
Hannah van den Bosch, MA
Jessica Wan
Marika Brown, PhD Candidate & Instructor, McMaster University
Isabella Graceffa
Adrienne Quinn
Ali Soerensen
Wei Chun Kua
Talat Hakim
Kalyn Salmon
Alexandra (Oliver) Basekic, Poet, academic 
Genevieve O'Grady
Anahita Martyn
Don Wells, Professor Emeritus, Labour Studies & Political Science, McMaster University
Maja Terzic
Claire Peace
Kelsey Denise
Emily Scherzinger, Instructor, McMaster University
Jacqueline Huo
Sue Carson
Linzey Corridon, PhD Researcher, McMaster University
Art Heidebrecht, Professor Emeritus, McMaster University
Pam Beatson
Elizabeth Ann Martin
Laëtitia Eyssartel, Resident of Hamilton
Stephanie Rico
Johannah Bird, PhD Candidate, McMaster University
Payton Carne
Sarah Hopen
Sonia Persaud, PhD Candidate, 
Robyn Vardy, B.A. Social Psychology. M.A. Counselling Psychology
Mary Love, Master of Information Science
Aseel Sultan, McMaster University Student
Aislyn Sax ​

Please read and sign this letter requesting that Crown Prosecutors drop all charges against the concerned citizens targeted by Hamilton police while supporting houseless Hamiltonians. Use the form at the bottom of this page to add your name!

Ontario Court of Justice
To Whom it May Concern:

Recently, Hamilton police have brought charges against citizens of Hamilton who have engaged in activism for the better good of humanity. Several young people associated with the Hamilton Encampment Support Network (HESN) have been charged by Hamilton Police Services for very minor violations. These folks are supporting people facing poverty and police oppression. HESN has engaged in feeding, clothing, and helping houseless people. Their actions included Kickstart by Freedom Camp, a protest encampment on the forecourt of City Hall that attracted houseless people who were provided a safe place to camp where they were fed and clothed by HESN. These young people effectively showed how the city should be treating our houseless citizens.

Racialized members of HESN are being targeted by police. Our courts are being used against these helpful citizens who are assisting destitute people. Two people were arrested trying to bear witness to an encampment teardown at JC Beemer Park. One supporter of HESN, a woman who uses a wheelchair, was charged with allegedly assaulting a police officer by rolling over an officer’s foot in the midst of a confusing interaction. Two others were charged in the peaceful protest at Beemer park. Three others were arrested in front of the HPS where police threw passive young Black youth to the pavement and piled on top of them. All those tackled and arrested were racialized people among a diverse group of people protesting the arrest of the first young woman arrested at Beemer. The conditions for their release after being charged prevented them from entering parks, the usual location of houseless encampments of people who were being assisted by HESN. These charges are due to the overzealous police response. The destitute encampment people are trying to survive in their best available shelter. Prosecuting the Black members of HESN should be seen as an indictment against the Hamilton police services. This is a wrong-headed and wasteful use of our courts.
​
We – the writers and signatories of this letter – encourage you to drop all charges against the six HESN supporters who have been targeted by HPS. We understand that this ability – and responsibility - now lays solely with the crown. We also understand that extensive precedent exists to allow the crown to withdraw charges that are not in the best interest of the public to pursue. Public concern and encouragement facilitated the dropping of charges against police officers, journalists, and houseless individuals who were over-ticketed.
Please respect the right to help and protect houseless encampment members and consider the better public good. Drop the charges against these members of HESN.

Respectfully,
Signatories listed below

​Jim Quinn, PhD, Professor, McMaster University
Ria Kleiman
Don McLean, Honourary Doctor of Laws; Hamilton Gallery of Distinction
Rochelle Smith
Nathan Savelli, Master of Arts
Dr. Atif Kubursi, Emeritus Professor McMaster University
Paul Costello
Ken Stone, Chair, Community Coalition Against Racism (Hamilton)
R.A. Frager, Professor  Emerita, McMaster University
John Kirk
Peter Appleton
Miriam Sager
Irene Schieberl
Ali Jones, BSW
Frances Murray
Douglas Rich, Retired
Laura Palumbo
Chris Gusen
Mike Wood, Chair- Hamilton Tenants in Unity
Nadia Ahmed
Leanne Grieves, NSERC Postdoctoral Research Fellow, McMaster University
Andrew Levine
Wayne Poole
Arlene Slocombe, Executive Director - Water Watchers
Catherine Clase, Professor of Medicine, McMaster University
Byron Murray
Adrienne Lee
Steve Chalastra
Dr. George Sorger
Kelsey Burns
Maia De Graff
Lia Hamelin
Susan Radford, BSc.  BSW
Connor Bennett
Keisha Quinn
Julia Karpiuk
Rachel Dubeckyj
Ian Walker
Jeanette Eby
Scooter Jay
Ronald Clayden
Petra Matar, OAA
Dan Ashworth
Theo Vittore
Souheil Benslimane, Abolitionist
Vania Pagniello
Arwen Ballentine
Nancy Dingwall
Claire Webber
Lorraine Green, Co-Chair, Grandmothers Act to Save the Planet GASP
Alex Jacobs-Blum
Rehoboth Dekamo
Kayla Hagerty, B.A.
Jill Fran
Jim Fitzgerald
Judy Snider
Brian Tammi
David Nguyen
Alison Pipe
Elliot Currie
Riley Wignall
Emily Hubbard
Kostyn Petrunick, B.A., M.A.
Emma Ditchburn
Lynn Bruulsema, JD Candidate 
Jeffrey Pincombe
Haley Reap
SG Hurlburt
SG Hurlburt
Raquelle Bultje
Meaghan Ross, Staff, Southern Ontario Human Rights and Equity Office
Laura Stewart
Stoness Verda
Deni LeDuc
Shelley Stevens, B.A. M.Ed.
Gail Lorimer
Sarah Perkins, OMP, M.OMSc, B.Sc, Co-Director of Flourish Therapy Practices
James Lambert
Evan Ubene
Emmali Branton
Matthew Ing
Andrea Purnell
Tanya Collins
Nina Waddington
Amy Notdorft
Naomi Ives Peak, MSW
Susie O'Brien, Professor, McMaster University
Eshan Merali
Shunmathi Shan
Kevin Intini
Jennifer Bruce
Mymoon Bhuiyan, Project Coordinator Mac Divest
Melanie Walter
Stephanie Springgay, Director School of the Arts McMaster
Craig Cassar
Alex Wagstaffe, PhD student McMaster University 
Andre Rivet
Samantha Berlin, Business owner 
Justine Kiely
Hannah van den Bosch, MA
Marika Brown, PhD Candidate & Instructor, McMaster University
Deborah Townsend
Talat Hakim
Parsa Shahid
William Hunter
Anahita Martyn
Claire Peace
CA Klassen
Emily Scherzinger, Instructor, McMaster University
Sue Carson
Trish Vanson
Linzey Corridon, PhD Researcher, McMaster University
Art Heidebrecht, Professor Emeritus, McMaster University
Pam Beatson
Elizabeth Ann Martin
STEPHANIE HILTZ
Howard Katz
Stephanie Rico
Blythe Haynes
Evelyn Fraser, Music Educator
Lisa Salvo
Juliana Lachance, Artist
Sarah Hopen
Rehoboth Dekamo
Sonia Persaud, Phd Candidate
Sarah Greenwood, Concerned citizen in Hamilton
Robyn Vardy, B.A. Social Psychology. M.A. Counselling Psychology
Ashleigh Boucher
C Colangelo
Ira Rabinovitch, Teacher at the TDSB
Melanie Robitaille, Program Manager CMCP
Jarred Jones
Ashley Theysen, B.Ed, B.Mus
Joshua Weresch
Monica Theysen, Director "Sunday Supper with Friends
Lynn Johansen-Gough
Helga Vincent
Alicia Bragg
J Y
Laura Lee Andrew, Educator
Peter Henderson
linda sepp, A human who cares about others
Tanisha Palmer
Jayden Ernest
Jenni Velichka, MSc, McMaster University 
Molly Cameron
Mona Munim, Registered social worker
Danielle Hitchcock-Welsh
constance scott
Aislyn Sax
Alexe Bernier, BSc, MSW
Krisiga Krishnarajah
Grace Cameron
Madeline Glover
Ally Krueger-Kischak
madison mueller, social work student
Ruby Bokma