| Most G20 Charges Dropped, Lawsuits and Investigations Continue | 5 February 11 |
G20 demonstration organizer Alex Hundert, 30, was arrested at home the day before June 2010 Toronto G20 demonstrations began. He was charged with three counts of conspiracy related to organizing demonstrations. Released on $100,000 bail in July under strict conditions, including house arrest, and Hundert was prohibited from participating in any public demonstrations. Hundert was arrested for breaching his bail conditions when he appeared in a Ryerson University seminar about the G20 summit. Hundert plead guilty for breaching his bail January 24, 2011. This means the question of whether a university panel constitutes a public demonstration will not be adequately answered by the courts."I made this plea because I realized I was doing no good to anyone as I sat in jail... I took a deal that would allow me to get back into my community where I can continue to commit myself to issues of social and environmental justice," said Hundert. "What we are challenging here is the way in which policing and correctional resources were used when there was no threat to public safety," said Nathalie Des Rosiers, a lawyer for the Canadian Civli Liberties Association. "That's a concern all Canadians should have." Of the more than 1000 G20 protest arrests, only 99 criminal charges remain outstanding. The rest have been withdrawn by the Crown. Several investigations and class action lawsuits into police actions and arrests during the G20 summit are ongoing. At least one Toronto Police officer, Const. Andalib-Goortani, has been charged with two counts of assault following investigations by Ontario's Special Investigation Unit. View February 2, 2011 Toronto Star articleView February 2, 2011 Globe and Mail article View January 31, 2011 Canadian Civil Liberties Association press release View January 19, 2011 Alex Hundert statement View Manitoba Wildlands International Meetings: G20 web page Sources: Canadian Civil Liberties Association, Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail |
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