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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 Signatories (so far)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 Comments are closed.
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