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U of T Presses Criminal Charges against 14 Students and Organizers!
Posted: April 29, 2008
*URGENT CALL FOR SUPPORT – PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY**
UofT PRESSES CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST 14 STUDENTS AND ORGANIZERS
MOBILIZING TO FIGHT FEE HIKES
University's level of hostility and repression against students
unprecedented in the last decade
Community Release: Toronto; April 25 2008
Over the past several weeks, a wide coalition of students, alumni and workers at University of Toronto have come together to protest and organize against proposed fee hikes and to demand accessible education. This coalition has organized public meetings, a sit-in and
demonstrations which have received wide community support. Students
have also conducted extensive research on the effects of fees and the fiscal policies of the university administration (see http://www.fightfees.ca).
Due to a peaceful sit-in, organized to protest against tuition fees on March 20, students are being subjected to an intense campaign of intimidation by the UofT administration and Toronto Police. Students have been followed by campus police, both on and off campus, as well
as being monitored and photographed during meetings. UofT has pressed charges against 14 students and organizers, who have now had to turn
themselves over to Toronto Police. They have been released on strict bail conditions, which ban them from associating with one another outside of courts and classes, as well as being barred from protesting anywhere on UofT property. In addition, several UofT students, staff and alumni have been completely banned from UofT property. One organizer, Oriel Varga, was held in custody overnight. Additionally, UofT is investigating 12 students under the Code of Student Conduct.
This crusade of intimidation comes at a time when the administration is publically lobbying for the deregulation of fees, and is thus undertaken to prevent students from continuing to
organize around university fees.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SHOW SUPPORT:
We are calling on all community allies and support groups to show their solidarity with the 14 accused in any way they can. Community members are expressing their outrage at the growing cost of education, and at the use of intimidation and force against students who organize for accessible education at the University of Toronto.
It is critical for the university community and supporters across the country to publicly condemn and reverse attacks on students' right to organize. We are calling on all community members, community groups, unions, and student organizations to:
a) Send a message of support to the Committee for Just Education at
fightfees@gmail.com
b) Send letters of condemnation to the President of the University of
Toronto, David Naylor, at david.naylor@utoronto.ca (please CC all
emails to fightfees@gmail.com) or phone David Naylor at 416-978-2121
with an emphasis the following:
(i) Drop all charges against UofT student, staff and alumni.
(ii) Remove all bail restrictions and conditions for all 14 accused
(iii) End the policing of dissent and protest on campus. In the wake
of the March 20 sit-in, 12 students are also being investigated under
the Code of Student Conduct and student organizers have faced
intimidation and surveillance from the campus police. More recently,
the University has pressed charges against 14 students and organizers.
**For more information and to get involved with the Allies for Just
Education, visit http://www.fightfees.ca or email us at:
fightfees@gmail.com**