Published in “Brisbane From Below” n°1 (Brisbane, 2011).
Justice, Dignity, Resistance: An Interview with John from Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP)
Could you tell us a bit about yourself and how you became involved with OCAP?
I was a worker at a factory in Ontario in the 1980s and, after being made unemployed, I helped form a union of the unemployed. In 1990, this organization helped out in the campaign that led to the formation of OCAP. [Read More]
** check end of report for details of election night action **
More information and Photos: http://www.ocap.ca/ocapnews/gatekeeper.html
OCAP takes ‘Gatekeeper’ Squat, MP vows conversion to social housing
On Saturday, November 8th in the heart of downtown Toronto’s east end, All Saint’s Church was packed with people who came to eat a hot meal and to rally for a demonstration called by the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty. We had put out a call to take over an abandoned building in a community well aquainted with living in poverty. Over 500 people then took to the streets in a spirited march that made its way through a neighbourhood dense with homeless shelters, low income housing, and parks where people live and die with the reality of how serious the housing crisis in this city really is.
Note: The one other arrested person is a member of the Steelworkers. In total four people, all trade union members, were arrested yesterday.
Report on OCAP Squat Victory
40 members of CUPE 3903 were among the 500 people who participated in the victorious march and occupation of an abandoned building at 558 Gerrard St. E., securing its conversion into social housing. The action was a victory on two counts: in addition to transforming an empty building into social housing, demonstrators forced the state to respond politically by negotiating with the demonstrators instead of unleashing its uniformed goons. Unequal and inhumane distribution of housing is a political issue that politicians should address through negotiation and dialogue rather than through police violence on unarmed civilians, and this victory should be recognized as a breakthrough in that regard.
Corporate media:
OCAP Thunders Into Mayoral Campaign With March (City TV) * Video footage too* http://www.pulse24.com/News/Top_Story/20031108-007/page.asp
Mills puts career on line (Toronto Sun) http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/TorontoSun/News/2003/11/09/251344.html
MP’s vow ends protest (Toronto Star) http://thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1068336306004&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154
Sunday June 15, 2003
(Peterborough) – On Sunday June 15, 2003 community members took over an empty building as part of the Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty’s second action in its “Give it or Guard it” Housing Campaign and Squatting tour. The summer-long campaign tours unused buildings in the city that could be used for affordable housing.
The squatted house is located at 1130 Water St. and is officially owned by the City of Peterborough. As far as PCAP knows, the house has been sitting empty and unused for approximately a year. One city worker told a PCAP member that the City is attempting to buy up all the houses along the river with the intent relocating or demolishing the buildings in an effort to create a green space. However, the same city worker told PCAP that this could take “forever.”
On Sunday June 15, 2003 anti-poverty activists and community members took over an empty building owned by the city of Peterborough. Approximately 30 squatters are currently staying in the house – located at 1130 Water Street – and demands to the city have been released.
Anti-Poverty Activists Squat City Building in Peterborough, Ontario
Sunday June 15, 2003
(Peterborough) – On Sunday June 15, 2003 community members took over an empty building as part of the Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty’s second action in its “Give it or Guard it” Housing Campaign and Squatting tour. The summer-long campaign tours unused buildings in the city that could be used for affordable housing.
AN APPEAL FOR SOLIDARITY ACTION IN SUPPORT OF OCAP MEMBERS FACING SECOND TRIAL ON ‘RIOT’ CHARGES.
On May 11, the trial of Stefan Pilipa, Gaetan Heroux and John Clarke of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, on charges that they organized a ‘planned riot’ by homeless people at the Ontario Legislature on June 15, 2000, came to an abrupt end. A deadlocked jury led to a mistrial being declared.
On June 18, the three men go back to Superior Court to learn whether or not the Crown (prosecution) will be demanding a second trial. If that happens, OCAP and its many supporters will meet the challenge but, at the same time, we want to do all we can to get the charges dropped. The three have already spent three years with this matter hanging over their heads. To this day, the must live with serious bail conditions that limit their movements and massively restrict their civil liberties. The last trial lasted for four months and we would like to avoid another huge outlay of time and resources. We would also like to end the possibility of prison sentences of up to five years that would result from convictions.
