The Forum Against Police Violence and Impunity took place in Montreal, on January 29-31, 2010. Over the course of the weekend, well over three hundred participants explored a range of themes, including: asserting oneself when dealing with the police, police repression of social movements, youth and profiling, profiling of drug users, campaigns for justice led by family members of people killed by the police, gender and police violence, and working toward justice without police.
The organizing committee of the Forum Against Police Violence and Impunity is pleased to announce that the videos of the panels and workshop-discussions are finally available on-line, thanks to the work of several members of the committee and our allies/friends.
No Justice, No Peace: Why people leave the police
Families speak out against police killings and impunity
To view the videos, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/user/FAPVI?blend=4&ob=5.
Also, a 5-minute video-documentary about the Forum Against Police Violence and Impunity, by three engaged artists (Emiliano Bazan Monanez, Violaine Brisebois-Lavoie and Ziona Eyob) can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/user/FAPVI?blend=4&ob=5#p/f/1/0Yiu9IlM0OY. In solidarity, The organizing committee of the Forum Against Police Violence and Impunity
www.forumcontrelaviolencepoliciere.net
Yesterday, on the third night of Israeli Apartheid Week 2011, professor and renowned public intellectual Judith Butler spoke to packed auditoriums at the University of Toronto. With so many people interested in attending the event, organizers were forced to turn close to 500 people away.
It has become increasingly difficult for student groups and clubs to find affordable and accessible space on campus. That we could not accommodate all those who arrived to see Professor Butler yesterday evening is a testament to the University of Toronto’s failure to provide adequate space for student clubs and community groups organizing events on campus. Students Against Israeli Apartheid is a student-based grassroots organization with limited resources. It is unfortunate that the University of Toronto could not cater the necessary space required to accommodate the interest generated by Professor Butler’s lecture. There remains, however, no justification for leaving organizers with no other option but to turn people away from such a thought-provoking and engaging lecture.
Advocating for more affordable and accessible space remains a key element of our work as Students Against Israeli Apartheid.
That said, we are grateful that Professor Butler had the opportunity to speak on the importance of Boycotts, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) to an audience of 450, and we are excited to see so much interested in Israeli Apartheid Week.
This week, Students Against Israeli Apartheid at the University of Toronto and York University have launched campaigns demanding that our universities divest from companies complicit in Israeli apartheid. We have released a trailer as part of our launch:
This is the seventh annual Israeli Apartheid Week, which will this year take place in a record 80 cities worldwide, including cities across South Africa and Palestine. The week highlights the successes of the BDS campaign along with the many injustices that continue to make BDS so crucial in efforts to end Israeli Apartheid.
There are three more events to look out for this week.
Please stay tuned for more divestment news!
Visit our website for more information: www.toronto.saia.ca
Video of panels from International Migrants Day -- OPSEU, Wellesley/Yonge, Toronto
Part 1
Parts 2-7 available on Youtube
Statement by Migrante Canada
On the Occasion of International Migrants Day -- December 18, 2009
Migrante organizations in Canada join migrants around the world in celebrating International Migrants’ Day and renewing our commitment to struggle for the rights and welfare of all migrants. As the Canadian state grapples with its own economic and political crises, migrants along with the Canadian working people persevere in their resistance to attacks on their rights. Read more…
by Mike Brito
On December 6, Toronto police in the downtown entertainment district assaulted Toronto-area hip-hop artist and youth worker, Verse.
The incident began when police decided to intervene in a discussion between the MC and a taxi driver. Verse was struck at least once, before being thrown to the ground and repeatedly punched. Verse sustained injuries that included bruising and swelling on his face and head, after which he was arrested and taken to 52 Division. He was detained throughout the night, for more than 8 hours and was eventually released with no charges.
BASICS, Justice for Alwy, and NO COPS speak at a Public Forum held by the Equity Studies Students Union of the University of Toronto, Monday, November 23, 2009.
Dining With Terrorists:
Gotabaya Rajapakse defends the illegal abduction and the detention of Vithyatharan:
Kothapaya got busted by BBC:
Hunting the Tigers
