What is this? This is an info session and training workshop for anyone interested in learning about providing legal observer work for the large number of actions and demonstrations being planned in opposition to the G8/G20 summits in June. What is �legal observer� work? Being a legal observer generally involves recording details of any incidents that arise between protesters and the police or other security personnel. This may include writing down first hand observations, noting the names of arrestees and police badge numbers, collecting names of witnesses, and then communicating the relevant info to a team of volunteer lawyers who have agreed to provide criminal defense support to anyone arrested. There is also the hope that the mere presence of legal observers will reduce the overall amount of violence and aggression. Do I need to have any prior experience to participate? No, that�s what the training session is for! For those students who are ultimately interested and available to help the MDC with legal support work in June, there will be a second, and more in-depth, training session in May. What is the Movement Defence Committee? The MDC was formed in early 2009 as an autonomous working group made up of legal workers, law students, activists and lawyers which provides legal support to progressive organizations and activists in Toronto. The MDC provides legal support and trainings to such groups organizing demonstrations or direct actions; offers legal observer trainings to law students, lawyers and activists; and works to respond to police misconduct and protect freedom of expression and the right to dissent.
For more information contact: Karin Baqi at karinbaqi@riseup.net Kate Oja at kate.oja@utoronto.ca
