Encouraging Vandalism
Finally, the Toronto G20 protest confrontation with police is producing some results in holding those who encouraged vandalism in the name of anti-capitalism sparked by anarchist ideology is coming to a head.
It's hard to feel too much sympathy for people who seem to hold responsible positions in society but yet subscribe to the ethos of anarchy, going out of their way to encourage others to wreak havoc at sensitive times within society. In fact, they imperil the free-speech-and-civil-protest rights of others by ratcheting mass protest up too many notches toward dangerous violence.
Leah Henderson, part of a group of six people pleading guilty to counselling the commission of mischief during the 2010 world leaders' summit, has been sentenced to ten months in jail. She was admonished by Justice Lloyd Budzinski, for her approach to civil disobedience: "The approach was to place your beliefs above the rights and safety of others."
The trained paralegal, self-identified as an anarchist, faced arrest when undercover police managed to infiltrate a G20 protest planning meetings. She was observed to be an individual of authority at the meetings, encouraging others to violent protest by smashing business windows and to commit other messages of violence in rejection of the status quo.
Her failed defence was no evidence that any of those she counselled were guilty of taking part in the violent downtown Toronto riots, where Black Bloc thugs attacked businesses and torched police cars. She was found guilty on the basis of her actions geared toward encouraging her listeners to commit violent confrontation.
"The accused's actions are antithetical to the rule of law [and] caused harm to the freedom of expression rights of all lawful and peaceful protesters", said Crown attorney Jason Miller. Her actions did not accord with constitutionally protected freedom of speech.
Ms. Henderson, given the opportunity to address the court, professed to being "deeply and profoundly affected" by her arrest and the process that followed. Her reaction, betraying the deep naivete of one who believes that counselling to violence is inoffensive and and supportable by good intentions.
Those good intentions obvious in her statement of rejection of the country's legal system supportive of "the distorted mirror that hides the lies of capitalism."
"This entire prosecution is born from the politics of fear", she fumed.
It's hard to feel too much sympathy for people who seem to hold responsible positions in society but yet subscribe to the ethos of anarchy, going out of their way to encourage others to wreak havoc at sensitive times within society. In fact, they imperil the free-speech-and-civil-protest rights of others by ratcheting mass protest up too many notches toward dangerous violence.
Leah Henderson, part of a group of six people pleading guilty to counselling the commission of mischief during the 2010 world leaders' summit, has been sentenced to ten months in jail. She was admonished by Justice Lloyd Budzinski, for her approach to civil disobedience: "The approach was to place your beliefs above the rights and safety of others."
The trained paralegal, self-identified as an anarchist, faced arrest when undercover police managed to infiltrate a G20 protest planning meetings. She was observed to be an individual of authority at the meetings, encouraging others to violent protest by smashing business windows and to commit other messages of violence in rejection of the status quo.
Her failed defence was no evidence that any of those she counselled were guilty of taking part in the violent downtown Toronto riots, where Black Bloc thugs attacked businesses and torched police cars. She was found guilty on the basis of her actions geared toward encouraging her listeners to commit violent confrontation.
"The accused's actions are antithetical to the rule of law [and] caused harm to the freedom of expression rights of all lawful and peaceful protesters", said Crown attorney Jason Miller. Her actions did not accord with constitutionally protected freedom of speech.
Ms. Henderson, given the opportunity to address the court, professed to being "deeply and profoundly affected" by her arrest and the process that followed. Her reaction, betraying the deep naivete of one who believes that counselling to violence is inoffensive and and supportable by good intentions.
Those good intentions obvious in her statement of rejection of the country's legal system supportive of "the distorted mirror that hides the lies of capitalism."
"This entire prosecution is born from the politics of fear", she fumed.
Labels: Crisis Politics, Economy, Ontario
posted by Pieface | 2:44 PM
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