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Toronto event: Forum on National Security, Arbitrary Arrests and Criminalization of Dissent - June 23rd

A Community Forum on

National Security, Arbitrary Arrests and the Criminalization of Dissent in Canada


WHEN: Friday June 23, 2006 - 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM


WHERE: Ryerson Auditorium L-72, Ryerson University, Podium Building(adjacent to Jorgenson Hall) 350 Victoria Street (off Gould Street, just East of Yonge)


ORGANIZERS: Community Initiative for Human Rights and Justice

¬- a grassroots coalition of social activists, human rights lawyers, academics, trade unionists, students and others.



The recent arrests of 17 young Muslim men, the mass arrests of about a 100 African-Canadian men (many were later released without charge), and the ongoing attacks on Indigenous communities bring to a head many questions about racial/cultural profiling, protection of fundamental human rights and liberties of marginalized groups, and concerns about the criminalization of dissent.


In most of these and other similar cases there has also been a rush to judgment by political leaders, the security agencies, and the media. As well, it seems that a two tier citizenship is swiftly taking shape - those who are considered as insiders, and others who are seen as being on the outside.


The speakers at the forum will address these and other related issues, and participants will be provided an opportunity to raise concerns from the floor.


We feel that an organized community response is imperative to redress the climate of fear, intimidation and injustice. The forum will highlight these issues and develop strategies to fight the attack on civil rights and liberties in the name of national security, safe streets, safe schools and zero tolerance.



Speakers

* Rocco Galati

Constitutional Lawyer

* Rinaldo Walcott

Professor and Canada Research Chair, OISE

* Sherene Razack

Professor, OISE

* Winnie Ng

Ont. Regional Dir., Canadian Labour Congress

* P.A. Jayakaran

Tamil Resource Centre

* Amina Ally

Educator

* Tariq Amin-Khan

Forum of Progressive Pakistani-Canadians

* Zainab Amadahy

Member, Indigenous Caucus, Coalition in Support of Indigenous Sovereignty

* Speaker from the Canadian-Arab community



Show your support: participate and make a difference!


FREE EVENT. WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE.


For more information: takhan@rogers.com; stalreja@look.ca


Tags for this entry: Canada, national security, civil rights.

posted by Annamarie at 2:05 AM