ROAD Kingston

PRESS RELEASE for IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 13th, 2008

ORGANIC UNDERGROUND STAFF THREATENED WITH ARREST - WILL NOT RETURN LITERATURE!

On Friday, July 11th, while participating in the local Summerfest activities on Front Street in downtown Belleville, an officer with Belleville Police Services was seen approaching numerous stores and street artists clutching a copy of a newspaper dedicated to radical street art and graffiti. This officer, Todd Bennett, was heard by OU staff to say that if anyone knew who the “asshole” was who was distributing this literature the police were to be contacted.

This particular newspaper was displayed on a table in front of the cafe along with political buttons, honey, fair trade coffee, chocolate, patches and Marxist and Anarchist literature.

An Organic Underground staff person overheard the officer and approached him stating that the literature belonged him and that he had every intention of continuing to distribute the material as this was an issue of free speech. Upon stating these words, the officer informed the OU staff person that a “car was being sent for and you (the OU staff person was) will be arrested for counsellng to commit an indictable offence and a trespass to property act notice will be issued barring you from Front Street.” The OU staff person was ordered to stay put to await the cruiser. A nurse who happened to be standing nearby witnessed the event unfold.

At that time, the OU staff person told the officer that he was leaving to inform his place of work of the impending arrest and ensure the child under his care was safe. The OU staff person threatened with arrest promptly returned after settling matters.

The constable, after spending about half an hour on the cell phone, informed the OU staff person and the owner of the cafe, that the matter will be investigated further and that an arrest will occur in “two to three days.”

Since that time the Organic Underground has been approached by Belleville Police Services and assured that the threatend arrest will not occur. However, we feel it is fundamental that the written material in question (our property) is returned to us and we will be meeting with the police in order to ensure the material is returned and steps are taken to ensure freedom of expression, thought and the propagation of ideas are allowed to flourish in our community.

The Organic Underground intends to purchase further copies of the newspaper and continue distributing it. This occurence has prompted increased business in our cafe and stirred a lively debate around the issue of freedom of speech; even people who do not agree with our political stance agree that the police have no right to control the literature and ideas we promote.

Please contact the mayor of Belleville in defence of the Organic Underground, Free speech and demand the return of our property - Contact (613) 968-6481 or (613) 968-6151.

The Organic Underground owner can be reached at (613) 967-3647 or (613) 968-6151.

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[Editor’s Note: For an excellent how-to graffiti guide, CLICK HERE.]

(originally posted at No One Is Illegal Montreal)

“Canada” has no jurisdiction over Mohawk land

This coming July 14, 2008, Mohawk grandmother and activist Katenies has again been ordered to appear before a judge in the Superior Court of Cornwall, Ontario. And again, Katenies will refuse to recognize the authority of the courts, and demand that Canadian officials prove they have jurisdiction over her as an Indigenous woman.

One month ago, on June 14, 2008, Katenies — accompanied by Kahentinetha of the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory – was targeted for arrest by Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) guards on an outstanding warrant for allegedly “running the border” in 2003, and offenses resulting from her refusal to appear in court and validate the colonial justice system.

Katenies has maintained since 2003 that border officials and the Canadian colonial courts have no jurisdiction over Kanion’ke:haka people or land. In January 2007, Katenies served court officials with a Motion to Dismiss, demanding that they establish jurisdiction, if any, over Mohawks and their ability to travel freely between “Canada” and the “United States”.

[The Motion to Dismiss is linked HERE.]

During the CBSA attack, Katenies and Kahentinetha – who are both writers and contributors to Mohawk Nation News (MNN) – were treated brutally by border guards. Both were handcuffed and tackled to the ground. Katenies was jailed for three days. Kahentinetha suffered a heart attack and had to be hospitalized for several days.

[Reports about the CBSA attack, and background information, are linked HERE.]

As mainly non-native groups and collectives based in settler communities on or near Mohawk lands, we are publicly standing in support of Katenies, and demand all charges against her by the colonial courts be dropped. We also condemn the brutal attacks by the CBSA on both Katenies and Kahentinetha on June 14, 2008 and declare our solidarity with Indigenous struggles for land, freedom and self-determination.

Endorsed by:
Agitate (Ottawa)
Les Apatrides Anonymes (Montreal)
Block the Empire-Montreal
Kingston Indigenous Solidarity Network
No One Is Illegal-Kingston
No One Is Illegal-Montreal
No One Is Illegal-Ottawa
OPIRG-Carleton
OPIRG/GRIPO-Ottawa
La Otra Campaña (Montreal)
People’s Global Action Bloc (Ottawa)
Solidarity Across Borders (Montreal)

[To endorse this statement, and to help efforts in support of Katenies, please contact indigenoussolidaritymontreal@gmail.com ]

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