Burning barricade suspects held for bail hearings
November 12, 2008
Guelph Mercury staff
GUELPH [Ontario]
Five people are facing charges after being arrested at a burning barricade in south Guelph.
Guelph Police arrived at the corner of Gordon Street South and Clair Road just before 9 a.m. Monday to find about 20 people building a barricade of wood and debris on the road, blocking traffic.
Guelph Police spokesperson Sergeant Doug Pflug said many of the protesters had their faces covered with bandanas.
Signs at the protest read, “No cops in Guelph,” “No cops in Tyendinga” and “Dear Nestle I hate you.”
When the first cruiser arrived, the group advanced toward it, and one man began kicking the car, police said.
The barricade was then lit on fire, and a liquid accelerant was dumped on it in an attempt to keep it burning.
When several other officers arrived at the scene, the group broke up and scattered in various directions.
Police pursued them and arrested six people.
Firefighters were called to the scene, but the fire went out before they arrived.
The road was closed for about 30 minutes while the barrier was dismantled. The liquid accelerant, as well as a large quantity of nails, were cleaned up.
[Z.], 23, of Guelph, was charged with arson, mischief, assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest and wearing a disguise.
[D.], 20, of Hamilton, was charged with arson, mischief and resisting arrest.
[Y.], 23, of Toronto, [S.], 19, of Guelph and [A.], 34, also of Guelph were each charged with arson and mischief.
They are being held for a bail hearing.
Confrontation 
Cinq personnes font face à des accusations à cause d’une barricade en feu!
11 novembre 2008
Centre des Médias Alternatifs du Québec / Guelph Mercury
GUELPH — Cinq personnes font face à des accusations après avoir été arrêté-es à un bloquage flambant au sud de Guelph.
Lundi, la Police de Guelph est arrivée au coin de la rue Gordon sud et de la route Clair un peu avant 9h cherchant une vingtaine de personnes qui construisaient, sur la route, une barricade de bois et de débris bloquant le trafic.
La Police a dit que lorsque le premier char de police arriva, le groupe avança ver le char et quelqu’un commença à y donner des coups.
La barricade fut alors allumée de feu et un liquide accélérant a été jeté dessus afin de le tenir en feu.
Lorsque plusieurs autres officiers sont arrivés, le groupe s’éparpilla et se divisa vers des directions diverses.
La Police les poursuivit et arrêta six personnes.
Le département des incendies de Guelph était aussi présent, mais le feu s’éteignit avant qu’il arrive. L’officier de la protection environnementale de la ville lava le liquide accélérant.
En ce moment, il n’est pas encore su quel fut le motif de cet événement. [Z.], 23 ans, de Guelph, fut accusé d’incendie criminelle, méfait, voie de fait sur un policier, résister à l’arrestation et porter un déguisement.
[D.], 20 ans, de Hamilton, fut accusé d’incendie criminelle, méfait et résister à l’arrestation.
[Y.], 23 ans, de Toronto, [S.], 19 ans, de Guelph and [A.], 34 ans, aussi de Guelph, fut toutes accusées d’incendie criminelle et de méfait.
Elles/Ils sont détenu-es pour une audience de caution.
During 2008, in Guelph, there were at least two other instances of burning road blocks. From both of these actions anonymous statements were issued explaining the reasons behind the activity, encouraging the spread of these tactics and expressions of solidarity. No arrests resulted from either of the other blockades.
Perhaps no non-corporate explanations have been made because of the arrests and charges faced in the aftermath of the November barricade. Surely some kind of perspective other than corporate news can still be shared. The state is trying to frighten into everyone into silence and conformity with threats of jail and court. The state wants to silence all the rebels by holding hostage a few.
Dealing with legal situations can quickly cause people to shy away from a strategy of attack – but is this really the best defense? Perhaps the best defense is expansive solidarity.
To echo the communique resulting from the burning barricade in September in Guelph: “As long as our comrades are being burdened with prison and courts, as long as land is being stolen for capitalist projects, our struggle ferociously continues onwards!”
An invitation to share your thoughts.
point of interest:
previous communiques from Guelph barricades
1. https://confrontation.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/guelph-settlers-block-highway-6/
2. http://friendsofgrassynarrows.com/item.php?846F
Guelph, On: Action & Arrests in Support of Mohawks
[Posted by naon on December 6, 2008, to friendsofgrassynarrows.com]
On Monday, November 10, an action was carried out in Guelph, in solidarity with the members of the Mohawk Warrior Society of Tyendinaga. The intersection of Gordon Street and Clair road was blocked with debris and loose nails. An attempt was made to light the debris on fire. Protestors held signs and passed out flyers to the waiting motorists. Selections of statements from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, and statements from the Tyendinaga Support Committee serve to explain the situation facing the people of Tyendinaga:
From Wednesday, November 5, 2008
At present, Tyendinaga Mohawk community members are being targeted for their opposition to an expensive new police station, paid for in part by the Federal Government of Canada, as well as their opposition to quarry operations where no adequate environmental assessments have taken place. (Tyendinaga Support Committee)
In the community of Tyendinaga, more than half the homes can’t drink their water, and the elementary school has had poisonous water for years. Right next to this school the Band Council and the Ministry of Public Safety and Security are building a $1.9 million cop shop.
On September 24th, 2008, the new police building was put on hold after community members blockaded the intended site of the building. Such demonstrations took place again on October 29, 2008. (Tyendinaga Support Committee)
Concern over the second quarry operation stems from alarm at the tremendous speed with which this particular quarry has been established and grown in size. These fears have increased in recent weeks as households in the direct vicinity of quarry operations have experienced water problems and collapsed wells for the first time ever. (Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory)
Build-All Contractors is a company owned by Belleville Police Chief Maracle’s brother, and has been awarded the contracts for both the police station and the quarry.
Currently, warriors in Tyendinaga have been targeted with arrest following these mounting criticisms over Band Council operations and spending. This amounts to an unprecedented attempt to criminalize and jail any effective opposition in the community. This is an attack on our families, our children, our culture and the way we think. This has moved beyond a simple community dispute. The federal government is making a final push to eradicate those people who believe in the strength and power of the Mohawk Nation and who will stand in its defense. (Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory)
At the November 10, 2008 action in Guelph a pamphlet was distributed to the public, explaining:
The location, the intersection of Clair Road and Gordon Street, was chosen, because it is a main economic artery on which trucks ship products and natural resources everyday. The day was chosen because it was the same day arrest warrants were being served in Tyendinaga.
In both Tyendinaga and Guelph (and virtually everywhere else) corporate interests threaten the safety of and access to clean water, a fundamental human right. Just down the road from the intersection where the action took place, Nestle Waters has a permit to extract 3.6 million liters of water per year, all for free. This permit was approved by the Ministry of Environment, despite a massive public outcry in Guelph. The Nestle Water bottling facility is the biggest in North America and poses a direct threat to the quality and quantity of water available in Guelph.
In both Tyendinaga and Guelph funding for police is prioritized over the actual needs of our communities. At the intersection where the action took place a new police station is scheduled to be built. This multi-million dollar endeavor comes at the expense of badly needed social services. In Guelph there is no public funding for safer crack kits, very limited addictions counseling services, and the waiting list for affordable housing includes over 2300 households.
As a result of this action Mandy Hiscocks, Yehuda Nestel, Shabina Lafleur-Gangi, Zach O’Connor, and Devin Crawford were arrested and charged with mischief, arson and a variety of other offences. As a result of the ridiculous bail conditions (including being required to live with a surety and obey a 9pm-6am curfew) some of those have been forced from their homes and communities. Some are now living in unhealthy situations. These charges come at a time of increased police harassment and surveillance of activists in our community, and they are a continuation of police attempts to disrupt political organizing in Guelph. The defendants are being represented by Davin Charney who can be contacted at 226-747-2317.
Ways you can help
Donations to the legal support fund for the defendants in Guelph will be split 50/50 between their defense and financial support of the Mohawk Warrior Society of Tyendinaga. Donations can be made by sending a cheque to:
The Central Students Association
Human Rights Office
Room 244, University Centre
University of Guelph
Guelph, Ontario
N1G 2W1
Include HRO – legal defense fund in the memo line
Take a moment to put pressure on the feds who are helping to make the police station happen. We need to tell the Canada state and their agents to:
(1) immediately stop their attacks, and police brutality;
(2) honour Indigenous rights and jurisdictions;
(3) support the Mohawks’ struggle for self-determination; and
(4) get Canada and Indian Affairs out of Haudenosaunee (Six Nations) Territory.
Peter Van Loan, Minister of Public Safety, House of Commons, Ottawa
phone: 613-944-4875 or 1-800-830-3118
fax: 613-954-5186
email: communications[at]ps.gc.ca