Indy Hamilton

Time: Saturday, May 28 · 8:00pm - 11:00pm

Where: 345 James Street North Hamilton, Ontario

RESIST against a culture in which rape is far too common – one in three Canadian women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime.
REFUSE to participatein victim blaming and woman hating.

REBEL against the idea that women can’t rock out.

Cost: $5 or Pay What You Can. ALL AGES.

• Hamilton’s own all women punk band Rackula - http://www.myspace.com/rackulamusic
• Blocks Recording artists Betty Burke featuring members of The Hidden Cameras, Republic of Safety, The Barcelona Pavilion, CN Power, The Airfields, Sixty Stories, Anthem Red and even Shameless Magazine! It’s hard to believe that much rock cred comes from just three women - http://www.bettyburke.com/
• Sarah Mangle Buys a Bear who mixes ukulele, euphonium, organ and drums making you want to wear your sparkley-est sweater - http://www.myspace.com/buysabear
• Wicked dancing DJ sets by members of Rackula. Show us your moves!

Presented by:
SACHA – www.sacha.ca
This Ain’t Hollywood – www.thisainthollywood.ca
INDI 101 – www.indifm.ca

May is Sexual Violence Awareness Month

Location: Sky Dragon Centre 27 King William St

On Saturday, April 23rd at the Skydragon, Mayday Magazine, Hamilton FreeSkool’s Practical Solidarity, & the Peace Cafe are hosting a party to launch the special issue of the Dominion about climate change. For those of you who don’t know, The Dominion Media Co-op is one of the best news sources in the country today, and once a year they release a special issue going further in depth on an issue. This year, that issue is Climate Justice, which is a big, complicated scary issue, and so we figured, what better way to introduce it to you all than to throw a big giant party with lots of radical hip hop and spoken word?

Learn more at

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=179229265461241

Saturday, April 30 · 1:00pm - 11:30pm

Location
Hamilton City Hall

###PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY###

DAY OF ACTION AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY APRIL 30TH 2011! JUSTICE 4 ANDREAS! 1PM @ CITY HALL

Within the last year there has been 3 shootings resulting in 2 deaths at the hands of police officers in the Hamilton/Halton region. There have been numerous instances of police abuse reported in headline news. It is likely that many more accounts of brutality at the hands of Hamilton police have never been heard. We all know someone who has been targeted or affected by the harassment, intimidation and violence that have become the common practice of an unaccountable police force. These cops enjoy impunity while the complaints and allegations against them are met with outright hostility or pushed through a bureaucratic process of little consequence to law enforcement. The steadily growing list of high profile disgraces of our own police department illustrates this.

Sergeant Kevin Dhinsa is accused of sexual and personal harassment by 12 female co‐workers , only to return to policing in 2008. All charges were dropped after the chief of police dragged his feet through the courts which resulted in the case being thrown out due to a technicality.

Since its inception in May 2010 the Hamilton Police ACTION Team routinely intimidates and harasses people living, working and hanging out downtown. Their mandate of criminalizing the young, the poor, and the homeless is made clear in last year’s report which revealed that the vast majority of their work consisted of “street checks”, id checks and ticketing for minor offences.

The July 2010 G20 summit held in Toronto saw thousands of police assembled from across the country to execute the largest mass arrest in Canadian history. Nearly 100 Hamilton police officers were involved in the strategic crackdown on the right to political dissent and protest.

On May 4th 2010, 58 year old Myanmar refugee Po La Hay was severely beaten in his own home after police raided mistaken address. Hay, who speaks very little English, was punched and kicked after collapsing to the ground. Hamilton police did not call SIU following the incident. Following the investigation only one cop, Ryan Tocher, was charged. Tocher was also under investigation for “discreditable conduct and unlawful or unnecessary exercise of authority” at the time of the incident. He is still working for Hamilton Police Services.

On February 2nd, 2011, 19 year old Andreas Chinnery was shot and killed inside his apartment by 3 police responding to a noise complaint. Andreas was not armed and the officers were let into the apartment. To date the Hamilton Police have refused to release virtually any information regarding
the shooting.

We as a community cannot let this behaviour continue unopposed in our city! The SIU has time and time again proven itself to be an impotent organization, incapable of keeping police brutality, assault, harassment and murder in check. The vast majority of cops investigated by the SIU (police investigating police) are cleared of all charges. The time has come for us as victims of the police to begin providing our own solutions. This is why we are calling for a rally and demonstration on Saturday April 30th in
Hamilton.

We demand an open investigation into the murder of Andreas Chinnery! We will no longer accept police brutality in our city!
We will stand together across our communities in defence of those targeted by the police!

TO ENDORSE THIS DEMONSTRATION PLEASE CONTACT:
905againstpolicebrutality@gmail.com

When: Wednesday April 6, 2011
Where: Mohawk College Fennell Campus, Room i109
What Time: 7 pm to 9 pm

In Canada today are we witnessing a systematic attempt to silence discussion and free thought? Recent events like the G20 mass arrests,George Galloway being barred from speaking in Canada, the persecution of Wikileaks, and the unwarranted security demands at Dr. Finkelstein’s recent Canadian tour all indicate that free speech is facing unprecedented challenges.

Of particular concern is the possibility that our Post Secondary Institutions are succumbing to this dangerous trend. If Colleges and Universities – publicly funded institutions of higher learning – are becoming less open, what does this say for the health of Canadian democracy, and the informed debate it depends on?

Recent incidents at Canadian Colleges and Universities challenge us to ask how certain events are labeled security threats, while others are not. On what basis are these judgments made? What evidence is considered, and who makes the final decisions?

At this public forum, Mohawk students and concerned community members will speak to the issue of freedom of speech at post-scondary institutions. Following this, an open, moderated discussion will occur. All are welcome to attend and all voices will be heard. Please come out to express your opinion and engage in discussion.

If you’re interested in helping out with the forum or have any suggestions, please let us know and we will work together to provide a meaningful experience for everyone involved!