May 5, 2008
PSAC Statement of Solidarity with U of T student protesters
The Public Service Alliance of Canada denounces the actions taken by the University of Toronto to stifle student dissent, and joins the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) in demanding that charges be dropped against 14 students for participating in a peaceful sit-in on March 20, 2008.
According to the CFS, more than one month after a peaceful sit-in against planned fee increases, 14 students and campus community members were forced to turn themselves in to the Toronto Police to face serious criminal code charges. Twelve of those charged have also been informed that they are facing further penalties under the University of Toronto Student Code of Conduct. The activists who were arrested must now comply with bail conditions that prevent them from setting foot on campus, associating with one another, or participating in any protests on campus.
“Students have the right to protest against tuition fee increases – especially at a time when Canadian students are shouldering the burden of mounting debt and financial uncertainty,” said PSAC President John Gordon. “We support the student protesters and condemn the University of Toronto's crackdown on student dissent. The charges laid represent a clear violation of the protesters' freedom of speech, and could place their futures in jeopardy.”
PSAC is one of Canada's largest unions, representing more than 160,000 workers across the country, including teaching assistants and post-doctoral fellows at universities in Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario.
“We demand that University of Toronto President David Naylor and Attorney General Chris Bentley drop all charges and disciplinary procedures against the protesters,” said Gordon. “PSAC stands in solidarity with the protestors, and condemns any violations of students' and academic workers' right to protest peacefully.”
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Date Modified : 2008/05/05
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