[imc-okanagan] Fwd: [NSN] [Fwd: Justin Goodman Sentenced to 90 Days Jail]

[dylan]

***PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY!***
(apologies for duplicate postings)

This morning, in B.C. Supreme Court, Justin Goodman was sentenced to 90
days  in jail for his role in an anti-deportation action at Vancouver
Airport  almost 2 years ago.  Previously, Justin had been convicted of
"assault on a  peace officer" and "assisting escape from 'lawful' (sic)
custody" (an  additional charge of "obstruction" was stayed).

In sentencing Justin to the full 90 days recommended by the Crown
Prosecutor, the Judge cited the "deterrence" & "denunciation" principles
of  the Criminal Code:  in other words, acts of solidarity and sympathy
must be  "denounced" and "detered" through the imposition of criminal
sanctions  serious enough to cause others to think twice before engaging
in similar  acts of decency.  The Judge also said, with a straight face,
that violations  of the "rule of law" undermine "legitimate social
protest."

At the adjournment of court, most people remained sitting when the
Sheriffs  ordered everyone to stand.  A few of Justin's comrades shouted
messages of  support as he was led away.

Many people went to the Airport that day to try to prevent the deportation
of Iranian refugee Kobra Nateghi and her young adult son, Hassan (whose
anxiety attack on board the airplane deporting him was refered to as a
"violent outburst" by the Crown!).  Justin is paying the price for an
action  that, although ultimately unsuccessful in preventing Kobra and
Hassan from  being deported, inspired many of us by demonstrating that
when poor and  marginalized people are under attack by the state, we have
a responsibility  to defend them (according to a recent article in "The
Only" magazine,  members of the Iranian community in Vancouver have not
heard from Kobra in  over a year).

Please support Justin in any of the following ways:

1.  Write Justin a letter or, even better, visit him in prison (according
to  Courthouse staff, prisoners are taken to the "Pre-Trial Centre" in
Port  Coquitlam before "Corrections" staff decide the provincial jail
where they  will be sent - I will attempt to find out his location and
contact details  within the next few days).

2.  If you have any spare $$$, please donate whatever you can to help
Justin  cope with his time in jail:  prisoners need money for phonecards,
extra  food, personal items, etc. (again, I am looking into the easiest
and most  efficient way to get the money to Justin and will report back in
a few  days).

3.  Don't stop organizing and fighting back! - As our resistance
intensifies, so will the repression; if we let our (completely
understandable) fear stop us from acting, our enemies win!

4.  Support groups such as "No One is Illegal - Vancouver" & the "Land,
Freedom and Decolonization Coalition" which are fighting against
deportations, racial profiling, and for the rights of immigrants,
refugees,  Indigenous communities and other poor and marginalized people.

5.  Finally, support other comrades and members of our community who are
under attack - attend court appearances, donate to legal defence, organize
fundraisers, do legal defence or other support work, educate yourself and
others about the real nature of our "criminal (in)justice" system; do not
publically denounce or attack other militants and activists as this only
plays into the hands of our enemies (although constructive "in-house"
debates help our movement to grow).

For background information, please go to the following links:

http://resist.ca/story/2003/1/22/8492/09639
http://resist.ca/story/2003/1/23/95848/2978
http://resist.ca/story/2004/11/2/18449/1907
http://resist.ca/story/2004/11/15/202152/24

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