MONTREAL, Thursday, April 24, 2003 -- After deliberating for more than one day, a Montreal jury of 9 women and 2 men returned an emphatic verdict of "not guilty" in the riot trial of activists Jonathan Aspireault-Masse, Jaggi Singh and Christina Xydous. The charges date back to October 23, 2000, more than two-and-a-half years ago, when over 1000 people gathered in downtown Montreal to protest a meeting of the G-20 (which includes the heads of the IMF and World Bank). The trial lasted three weeks.
The jury verdict was all the more powerful since the defendants were also cleared of the lesser charge of "unlawful assembly" which has been used against hundreds of Montreal protesters in the past decade. The jury ended up siding with a group of openly anarchist and leftist defendants who didn't hide their political beliefs. The Crown's case relied heavily on the testimonies of several senior officers of the Montreal police, men with at least two decades experience. Their accounts were soundly rejected in favor of the defense -- presented by lawyer Pascal Lescarbeau, who represented Jonathan and Christina, and Jaggi, who represented himself. Their defense consistently challenged police behavior, as well as the targeting of outspoken political activists for their beliefs, and not their acts. The trial also revealed the widespread use of undercover agents, as well as significant police surveillance of political activists, including persons with no history of arrest, let alone criminal records.
Perhaps just as important as the formal verdict, was the fact that several jurors, outside the courtroom, wished the defendants good luck. An essentially middle-class jury was clearly sympathetic to Jonathan, Jaggi and Christina, and the anti-G20 protesters, even after viewing police video images of minor property destruction and rock-throwing after police charged protesters with horses and riot police beat and pepper-sprayed demonstrators. [During jury selection, the Crown systematically excluded persons who might have critical views by virtue of their profession, such as teachers and writers, as well as two working class black men. One rejected juror, a college professor, even criticized the Crown's tactics in an open letter to Montreal-area weekly papers.]
Jonathan, Jaggi and Christina wish to thank everyone who supported them, both in court, and with their messages of solidarity. Your support was essential and very meaningful. The verdict today is not just a victory for the three defendants, but also a modest win for political organizing in Montreal. The police and Crown tried to escalate their attacks on street-level organizing by pursuing charges that may result in serious jail time. For the time being, they have failed, at least in Montreal. [The Crown lawyer did indicate she might pursue an appeal.]
Jonathan, Jaggi and Christina again offer their full support to John Clarke, Gaetan Heroux and Stefan Pilipa of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) who are currently on trial in front a jury in Toronto for their role at the June 2000 anti-poverty protest at Queen's Park. John is facing up to five years in prison, and Gaetan and Stefan up to two, for their alleged role as leaders at the protest. Their defense has recently begun, and we wish them well. More info about the OCAP trial is available at http://www.ocap.ca. John, Gaetan and Stefan are fighting a crucial and landmark battle in the courts for all organizers and activists who confront unjust policies against the poor and homeless.
Also, Jonathan, Jaggi and Christina offer their appreciation and solidarity with communities and individuals who face systematic attacks by the legal system by virtue of their day-to-day existence: indigenous peoples, immigrant and refugee communities, the poor, street people, sex workers and others. As well, we are more than aware that hundreds of Montreal-area activists and organizers are still facing the courts for various charges -- unlawful assembly, disturbing the peace, mischief, etc. -- for their political efforts. This includes other G20 protesters who are still facing lesser charges at municipal court, as well as anti-police brutality demonstrators, Palestinian solidarity activists, squatters, non-status persons, anti-poverty protesters and others. For information about ongoing legal battles in Montreal, consult the Collective Opposed to Police Brutality's "Judicial Calendar" at http://www.tao.ca/~cobp/calendrier-judiciaire.html
There are many other court battles to fight. Jaggi, in particular, faces four more trials this year, including a jury trial in Quebec City related to the anti-FTAA protests in April 2001, as well as a trial in Montreal for his role in protesting against Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Concordia University (Jaggi, a non-student, has already been arbitrarily banned from Concordia for five years by the university administration, with absolutely no hearing or due process).
Thank you again to everyone for your support. To stay in touch about the G20 Riot Trial, and other court matters in Montreal, just e-mail montreal@tao.ca.
In struggle and solidarity,
Jonathan, Jaggi and Christina