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Report from Southern Ontario New Year’s Prison Demo Road Trip

from http://anarchistnews.org/

On December 31st 2011, crews from all around Southern Ontario got their road trip on, covering over 400 kilometres (250 miles) and hitting up 4 prisons over the course of a 12-hour noise demo marathon!

The 14-vehicle caravan, loaded with drums, warm clothes, 80 pounds of dumpstered citrus and almost as many fireworks, converged in Penetanguishene, Ontario in the early afternoon. Penetang is home to the Central North Correctional Centre where over 1000 people are imprisoned, including three of our close friends for their roles in the anti-G20 protests of 2010.

60-70 anarchists, anti-authoritarians and other party peoples marched on the jail to the beat of a hip-hop-inspired noise brigade through a thick blanket of fresh snow. A single screw-cum-superhero met us near the entrance and attempted to pull off a one man, Gandalf-inspired, You Shall Not Pass manoeuvre. Despite his admirable spunk, we had no choice but to humiliate his efforts and carry on our route while he proceeded to bounce around us like a grumpy chihuahua for the better part of the march. Continued…

Posted in G20 Update, Prison Resistance, Prisoner Resistance, Southern Ontario.

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By Guelph ABC – 01/05/2012

State Files Appeal of Ryan Rainville’s Sentence

 

On December 20th 2011, a member of the G20 Investigative Team came to his home at Sagatay Mens Residence to serve him with an appeal of his sentence. The implication of this action is that his sentence is to light. It is clear that Ryan’s pride in his convictions and anarchist values have led them to target him in an attempt to send a clear message to other anarchists, that our politics and bodies will be criminalized if we do not fall in line.

Before his sentencing, ryan had served over 3 months in prison, 8 months under house arrest and 5 months of a restrictive curfew. He is currently serving his sentence for these charges of 4 months house arrest, 4 months curfew, followed by a year probation. It will be 3 years after the original event before ryan is free of these charges.

History

On Monday Dec. 5Th, 2011 Ryan Rainville received a conditional sentence of 4 months under house arrest, followed by 4 months curfew and then one year probation. Ryan had pled guilty to 3 counts of Mischief over $5000 for using a red and black flag and a hammer to destroy Toronto Police cruisers during the G20 riot last year. He also pled guilty to a Breach of Peace.

Ryan’s sentence took into account the 96 days he spent in the Toronto Metro West Detention Centre and Maplehurst Correctional Facility following his initial arrest on these charges. Ryan fought and won during a trial where he contested charges of Assault Police with a Weapon and Obstruct Officer. These charges stemmed from accusations that a police cruiser Ryan had damaged was occupied.

GAyBC has just released a zine of Ryan’s statement he read to the courts before his sentencing. You can find it on our website www.guelphabc.noblogs.org to print and distribute at your leisure.

Posted in G20 Update, Repression, Southern Ontario.

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By Guelph ABC – 01/03/2012

Prisoners Rebel at Penetang, Christmas Eve

On December 24th, multiple ranges in unit 5 at the Central North Correctional Center (AKA Penetang) refused to go on lockdown. On one of these ranges (5F) Erik Lankin was held. During the holidays, it is common for prisoners to be on lockdown most of the time, because the guards are short-staffed. “Lockdown” refers to prisoners being locked into their cells, rather than being out on the range with about 20-30 other prisoners.

Between 12pm and 1pm, a lockdown was called over the PA, prisoners in multiple ranges refused to return to their cells. They demanded only to make phone calls to their families and friends on Christmas Eve and Christmas. Prisoners demanded to speak to a White Shirt (higher ranked officer). Three white shirt officers came onto range 5F to negotiate with the prisoners who refused to return to their cells. Through the windows, inmates on different ranges exchanged signs of solidarity. At 1:45, all guards including the white shirt officers left the range entirely. Shortly after, nearby ranges were released from lockdown. At that time, It was felt that they successfully broke a lockdown on the unit.

At roughly 2pm about 25 guards, probably all of the prison guards working, moved onto range 5A, forcing prisoners onto lockdown. One person on range 5A refused and was taken to the hole (solitary). When the guards arrived on range 5F, some prisoners continued to refuse lockdown until the guards promised that they would get out for phone calls throughout the holidays. In a tense moment, the guards gave their promise, and the prisoners returned to their cells.

Let this fearless collective rebellion inside a super-prison inspire us on the outside. Our comrades standing up for themselves can strengthen us to rise up against those who wish us to be imprisoned or silent.

Posted in General, Prisoner Resistance, Southern Ontario.

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By Guelph ABC – 01/02/2012

Solidarity Banner Drop in Montréal

We got this write up forwarded to us from a solidarity action with the folks arrested for anti-capitalist resistance during the G20 in Toronto!

Two banners were hung in Montréal in solidarity with the G20 prisoners. Solidarity with the G20 prisoners / Tear Down the Prison Walls was hung from a building on St. Catherine street downtown.  Solidarité avec les Incarcéré(e)s du G20 / Propageons la Révolte (Solidarity with the G20 Prisoners / Spread Revolt) was hung in the St. Henri neighborhood. Flyers were scattered at both sites, and further distributed in the metro system and on the street in the following days. We hope this counter-information action brings a smile to our locked up comrades.

Text from the flyer (followed by french):

Solidarity and Complicity with the G20 Prisoners!

Posted in G20 Update, Prison Resistance, Repression, Southern Ontario.

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By Guelph ABC – 12/22/2011

Leah Henderson Sentenced and Taken into Custody

Today Leah Henderson was sentenced to 10 months in prison for one count of counseling mischief over $5,000. This is after 1 and a half years of restrictive bail conditions, house arrest and jail. The court house was packed full of people that care about her as she was lead into custody. Please show Leah love and support by writing to her, organizing letter writing nights for all of the G20 defendants, and donating to the G20 prisoner fund.

you can read Leah’s statement to the courts and letter to her community here.

She has been transferred to Vanier and will wait there to be classified, therefore she may be moved to another institution in the future.

Leah Henderson

c/o Vanier Centre for Women at Milton
665 Martin Street
Milton, Ontario L9T 5E6
Telephone (905) 876-8300

Sincerely, the Guelph Anarchist Black Cross (GAyBC)

Posted in G20 Update, Repression, Southern Ontario.

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By Guelph ABC – 12/20/2011

G20 Erik and Adam Moved to Penetang

Today, Adam and Erik were moved to the super-jail in Penetainguishine, the Central North Correctional Centre. They are currently cellmates and  in good spirits. Peter is current at the same prison but in a different range. Here is their new mailing address:

Peter Hopperton/ Adam Lewis / Erik Lankin

Central North Correctional Centre
1501 Fuller Ave.
Penetanguishene, ON
Canada
L9M 2H4

It isn’t likely they’ll be moved again.

They especially want mail and reading material.

Thanks for the support.

Posted in G20 Update, General, Southern Ontario.

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By Guelph ABC – 12/14/2011

Peter Hopperton Transfered, New Address

Peter has been transferedToday Peter Hopperton was taken from his cell which he was sharing with fellow G20 prisoner Eric Lankin and transferred to Central North Correctional Centre, commonly called Penetanguishene after the city it is located in.

Penetanguishene is a Maximum Security prison holding almost 1200 prisoners and deals mostly with provincial (2 years less a day) sentences.

You can send your letters, postcards and letters of solidarity to Peter at the address below.

Peter Hopperton

c/o Central North Correctional Centre

1501 Fuller Ave.

Penetanguishene, Ont.

L9M 2H4

Canada

Posted in G20 Update, Southern Ontario.

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By Guelph ABC – 12/06/2011

Conclusion to Ryan Rainville’s Sentencing

Skeleton Speaks to an AudienceOn Monday Dec. 5Th, 2011 Ryan Rainville was received to a conditional sentence of 4 months under house arrest, followed by 4 months curfew and then one year probation. Ryan had pled guilty to 3 counts of Mischief over $5000 for using a red and black flag and a hammer to destroy Toronto Police cruisers during the G20 riot last year. He also pled guilty to a Breach of Peace.

Ryan’s sentence took into account the 96 days he spent in the Toronto Metro West Detention Centre and Maplehurst Correctional Facility following his initial arrest on these charges. Ryan fought and won during a trial where he contested charges of Assault Police with a Weapon and Obstruct Officer. These charges stemmed from accusations that a police cruiser Ryan had damaged was occupied.

Guelph Anarchist Black Cross (GAYBC) has just released a zine of Ryan’s statement he read to the courts before his sentencing. You can find it on our website www.guelphabc.noblogs.org to print and distribute at your leisure.

Print Version: Ryan_TrialStatements_imposed.pdf

Web Version: Ryan_TrialStatements.pdf

If you’re interested in writing letters of support and solidarity to Ryan, we will be forwarding mail from our P.O. Box. send your letters to:

Ryan Rainville c/o Guelph ABC

P.O. Box 183

Guelph, On

N1H 6J6

sincerely,

-Guelph Anarchist Black Cross

Posted in G20 Update, Prisoner Resistance, Southern Ontario.

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By Guelph ABC – 12/06/2011

Shut Down the Crime Bill! No Prison Expansion! December 10th, Toronto

No Prison Expansion
March and Noisy Demonstration
Saturday, December 10th 2011
3pm @ St. James Park
Bring noise makers, family and friends

On December 10, 2011, we will gather at St James park, the past site of Occupy Toronto. From there, we will march to the Don Jail in order to express our hatred of prisons and our contempt for the Criminal (In)Justice System.  Harper’s Crime Bill is an attempt to lock more of us away for petty crimes- to fill Canadian jails with drug users and people struggling with mental health issues.

The current and ongoing expansion of the prison industrial complex touches our lives every day– from increases in street cops and surveillance to the overcrowding of prisons, and the further criminalization of poverty and targeting of marginalized communities.

The global capitalist economy is failing, and the environmental crisis is ongoing and everywhere. Increased policing and criminalization is an austerity strategy that will inevitably result in more of our friends and family members being locked away, more government money spent on policing and prisons, and the closures of community programs and schools.

The Canadian State is on a path towards US-style super-max isolation prisons and increased solitary confinement. There are plans for dozens of new prisons equipped with state-of-the-art security systems to further isolate prisoners from the outside world. The consequences to us and to our communities are dire; if the Crime Bill is passed, it will impose mandatory minimum sentences on various non-violent crimes – including simple drug possession (6 months in jail for 6 pot plants) – and make it harder to get time-served or parole.

Inspired by the global struggle against the capitalist elite and their vicious program of austerity, we choose to resist.

In solidarity with all prisoners and exploited peoples struggling for freedom locally and globally.

In solidarity with indigenous peoples of this land, who face continued assault by the Criminal (In)justice System.

Against the current prison conditions of abuse and torture that only increase the violence in our communities.

“This is Just the Beginning” says Rob Nicholson the Justice Minister, referencing tough crime bills.

We couldn’t agree more.

 – Prison is Class War –

Buses will be leaving from Kitchener and Guelph to attend the march.
Email abolishtheprisons(At)gmail.com for more information and to reserve a spot.

Posted in Prison Resistance.

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By Guelph ABC – 12/05/2011

Toronto Metro West Noise Demo Report Back

from anarchistnews

On the evening of Monday, December 5th, about twenty masked people descended on the Toronto Metro West Detention Centre for a noise demo for our comrades locked up inside these prison walls. Stuck in the middle of an industrial wasteland in the northwest part of Toronto, Metro West serves to incarcerate over 600 inmates from the Greater Toronto Area.

We arrived at the prison during a correctional officer shift change, and while we received a wealth of bewildered looks, the demo went off without a hitch with no police interference. When we got around to the back of the prison, we began shooting off fireworks and chanting slogans to the prisoners.

Prisoner, prisoner, bottle rocket. Prisoner, prisoner, roman candle! We were able to clearly see the faces of prisoners through their windows. We heard from one of our friends locked up on the inside that the whole building was rumbling with the sound of fists pounding against windows. Many hearts were filled with joy both inside and outside for this outpouring of love and rage. Discarded firework casings were then thrown at the building as we left the institution.

This action was a small act of solidarity with all those criminalized for their involvement in anti-capitalist resistance during the G20 in Toronto in June 2010.

Solidarity to prisoners in revolt and those criminalized for their thoughts and action.
– some Southern Ontario anarchists


Posted in Prison Resistance, Southern Ontario.

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By Guelph ABC – 12/01/2011