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Join Not in Our Name Concordia for our first event of the school year, celebrating Jewish and Palestinian resistance against Israeli apartheid!

MONTREAL PREMIERE SCREENING
Citizen Nawi
a film by Nissim Mossek

Special Jury Prize, Jerusalem Film Festival, 2007

**********
Friday, December 4th, 2009
7:00pm

Concordia University Hall Building, 1455 de Maisoneuve west, room H-937
[metro Guy-Concordia]

FREE
Venue is wheelchair accessible
**********

{On s'excuse qu'il n'y aura pas de sous-titres en français pour le film.}

To see a trailer for the film, visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hpGYtm9kd0

Director Nissim Mossek dives headfirst into the life and work of Ezra Nawi, a Sephardic plumber and political activist living in Jerusalem. This touchingly personal documentary follows Ezra as he runs interference for a village of Palestinian farmers in the hills of South Hebron. The film also explores Ezra´s complicated and loving relationship with Fuad Mussa, a young Palestinian man that he shelters illegally in his home.

Veteran documentary filmmaker Nissim Mossek spent five years following Ezra, and he expertly weaves the two storylines together. As Fuad faces continued police harassment and the threat of prison time, the couple’s relationship grows more strained and Ezra turns to increasingly dangerous acts of social and political defiance. Driven by outrage and compassion, Ezra clashes continuously with the police and the army in the hope that he will be able to effect some change. Even more terrifying are his confrontations with militant Jewish settlers who are trying to push the Palestinians off the land, with Mossek capturing it all with the camera’s unflinching eye. In the raw and gritty tradition of the social documentary, Citizen Nawi delivers hope through an intimate portrait of one man’s fight for social justice.

UPDATE: On October 21, Ezra Nawi was sentenced to one month in jail for his resistance to the military's destruction of a Bedouin Palestinian village in South Hebron (documented in the film). More information at www.FreeEzra.org

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//About Not In Our Name - Concordia//

Not In Our Name – Concordia is a new group formed to actively support anti-apartheid organizing on our campus. We strive to counter the idea that all Jews are Zionists as well as the idea that opposing Israeli apartheid and supporting Palestinian liberation and human rights is anti-Semitic. As Jews, as students and as community members, we are committed to fighting oppression in all its forms. With this in mind, we oppose anti-Semitism while at the same time recognizing the nature of Israel as an apartheid state that oppresses Palestinians. In our struggles against oppression, we find it most important to decry oppression perpetrated in our name. Thus, as Jews, we work against Israeli apartheid. Not in our name.

Contact us at notinournameconcordia@gmail.com or 514-848-7583

Not In Our Name Concordia is a working group of QPIRG-Concordia. www.qpirgconcordia.org

Support Gary Freeman - Events in Montreal

- Come find out who Gary Freeman is and why his extradition must be stopped. - Take action to support the campaign to keep Gary in Canada. ******************* --->Panel discussion Monday, January 16th, 7 p.m. Concordia University, School of Community and Public Affairs (SCPA), 2149 Mackay, 1st floor (metro Guy) Featuring Gary's wife Natercia Coelho, and Kaie Kellough of Kalmunity Vibe Collective (speaking and performing poetry written by Gary Freeman). --->Rally Tuesday, January 17th, 4 p.m.-6 p.m.  Justice Minister Irwin Cotler's riding office, 4770 Kent Ave., Suite 316 (metro Plamondon) --->Performance by Kalmunity Vibe Collective -- live organic improv Tuesday January 17th, 8:30 p.m. Sablo kafe, 50 St. Zotique E, corner St. Dominique (metro Beaubien) Natercia Coelho ( Gary's wife) will also be speaking this event (Kalmunity's weekly show). ************************* Background Douglas Gary Freeman (Joseph Pannell) is the subject of a United States extradition request stemming from a 1969 incident in Chicago in which a police officer was injured.  As has been stated in court, he is an innocent man who acted in self-defense. He was arrested on July 27, 2004, outside the Toronto Reference Library, where he worked as a library research assistant for the previous 14 years. He has been in custody since that time. The allegations relate to an incident which occurred over thirty-five years ago in the highly charged atmosphere of racial tension and police repression then present in the African American community of Chicago. After two years in pre-trial custody, Freeman was released on bail.  He left Chicago because he feared for his life.  He believed that he could not receive a fair trial. Irwin Cotler, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, has powers under the Extradition Act to refuse to make a surrender order for the extradition of Gary Freeman to the United States. There are significant inconsistencies, omissions, and contradictions in the evidence offered by the United States in support of the request for extradition. Furthermore, serious questions have been raised about the fundamental justice of the Extradition Act in relation to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Most alarmingly, there is a real possibility of retaliatory punishment due to the nature of the allegations, in particular by guards at Cook County Jail where a recent grand jury has found severe mistreatment of detainees, or at the hands of the Chicago police, whose patterns of abuse, including torture, of suspects in custody have been documented by the respected organization Human Rights Watch and others. Freeman and his wife met while they were working at Concordia's library and they have many family, friends and supporters in Montreal. We do not believe the best interests of justice would be served by uprooting him from his family and returning him to an uncertain fate in the United States. Come learn about the case and how you can support Gary Freeman and his family! Info:(514) 848-7583 noii-montreal@resist.ca Visit www.freemandrum.org for more details on Gary's case Endorsed by: Alfie Roberts Institute Black Coalition of Quebec Books to Prisoners Montreal Anarchist Black Cross Federation McGill Radical Law Community No One Is Illegal-Montreal Solidarity Across Borders

Montreal’s 7th Anarchist Bookfair

This morning this popped in my Inbox, and it said [Please post and forward] – so that’s what i’m doing!

1.     Announcing the Montreal’s 7th Anarchist Bookfair!
2.     Callout, Workshops
3.     How to request a table
4.     Callout, Art Exhibits and Films
5.     Callout, Festival of Anarchy Events
6.     Volunteers, Postering and Publicity
7.     Contact info

***********************************************
* 1.  Announcing the Montreal’s 7th Anarchist Bookfair!  *
***********************************************

MONTREAL's 7th ANNUAL ANARCHIST BOOKFAIR
Saturday, May 20, 2005, 10am-6pm
Location TBA
MONTREAL, QUEBEC

--> The largest anarchist event in North America.
--> Part of the month-long Festival of Anarchy (May 2006).
--> Followed by a full day of Anarchist Presentations and Workshops (May
21, 2006). --> Bring your kids! Kids activities and free childcare
on-site.

The Montreal Anarchist Bookfair and Festival of Anarchy is the largest
anarchist event in North America, and an important exchange of anarchist
and anti-authoritarian ideas. The Bookfair is for anarchists and
non-anarchists alike, in French and English, with participants from all
over North America and beyond. Founded in May 2000, the bookfair is now
entering its seventh year.  Anarchist Bookfair events include book and
information tables, workshops, readings, films, presentations, walking
tours and much more. Once again, the Anarchist Bookfair will be followed
-- on Sunday, May 21 -- by a full day dedicated to anarchist-themed
workshops and presentations. As in the past, a "Festival of Anarchy" will
take place during the weeks preceeding the Bookfair, with diverse events
organized by anarchist and anti-authoritarian groups.

Proposal callouts for workshops, presentations, art exhibits, films,
Festival of Anarchy events and tables are included below. We look forward
to your suggestions and contributions!

**********************
* 2.  Callout, Workshops  *
**********************

The bookfair organizing collective is currently seeking workshop and
presentation proposals for the Bookfair (May 20, 2005) and the Day of
Anarchist Workshops and Presentations (May 21, 2005).

For the bookfair day, we are looking for introductory workshops to
anarchism, or an aspect of anarchism, aimed at people who are curious
about, or new to, anarchist ideas. The workshops should be accessible to
non-anarchists.  For May 21, we are seeking proposals that address an
anarchist-themed topic in some depth, and are intended for people who are
already familiar with anarchism, or might identify as anarchists.

--> For more information about proposing workshops and presentations,
including basic guidelines, please consult:
http://salonanarchiste.taktic.org/workshops.html

NOTE: The deadline for all workshop and presentation proposals is FEBRUARY
15, 2006.


************************
* 3.  How to request a table  *
************************

The heart of the bookfair is the main auditorium on May 20, 2006, which
will include booksellers, distributors, independent presses and political
groups from all over Montreal, Quebec and North America, and abroad.
Please make sure to read our principles on our website before contacting
us to request a table.  If you haven't tabled at the bookfair before,
please include a short description of your group and the material you
intent to distribute at the bookfair.

--> For more information about table space and vendors, please consult:
http://salonanarchiste.taktic.org/vendors.html

NOTE:  The deadline to request a table is APRIL 1, 2006.



*******************************
* 4.  Callout, Art Exhibits and Films  *
*******************************

The Montreal Anarchist Bookfair will again be displaying artwork relating
to anarchism and anti-authoritarian, autonomous or anarchist-supported
struggles. Please consider proposing an exhibit of photos, posters,
original art, repros - anything within the parameters of the Bookfair that
can be mounted and hung on a wall or placed in a corner!

The Montreal Anarchist Bookfair will also have a film room running all
day, showing films related to anarchism or anarchist-supported struggles,
that fall within the principles of the Anarchist Bookfair.

NOTE:  The deadline for art exhibit and film proposals is APRIL 1, 2006.


**********************************
* 5.  Callout, Festival of Anarchy Events *
**********************************

In addition to the Bookfair and Day of Workshops, the entire month of May
is part of a Festival of Anarchy, with diverse anarchist-themed events
occurring at different venues in Montreal.

--> For more information about proposing Festival of Anarchy events,
including basic guidelines, please consult:
http://salonanarchiste.taktic.org/festival_of_anarchy.html

NOTE:  The deadline to submit Festival of Anarchy events, to be included
in our calendar, is APRIL 1, 2006.

**********************************
* 6.  Volunteers, Postering and Publicity *
**********************************

This year the bookfair collective will be aiming to do a mailout of
bookfair publicity -- flyers and posters -- sometime in the spring.

--> If you would like to receive bookfair publicity by mail, to distribute
in your community, please send your mailing address to:
anarchistbookfair@taktic.org  Also, please specify whether you want
publicity materials in English, French or both.

--> If you are from the Montreal-area, and would like to help with local
postering and flyering efforts, please pass on your e-mail and/or phone
number to: anarchistbookfair@taktic.org  or 514-859-9090. Also, please
specify what areas you can poster.

**********************
* 7.  Contact information  *
**********************

If you have other ideas for the bookfair or Festival of Anarchy, don't
hesitate to get in touch with a proposal!   Contact us to to receive
regular updates and announcements by e-mail.

post :     Montreal Anarchist Bookfair
1500 de Maisonneuve Ouest, Suite 204
Montréal, Québec, H3G 1N1
CANADUH
web:      http://anarchistbookfair.taktic.org
email:      anarchistbookfair@taktic.org
tel:      514-859-9090 (messages only)

Nous parlons français
Se habla espagnol.

Poster Alleges Rape By Metro Security

“I was raped by metro security!”

That is the first line on the piece of paper i saw posted on the inside of a metro carriage two days ago, on my way home from Christmas shopping. In fact, as i looked around, i saw that whomever had posted it had put up a half-dozen such posters in that carriage alone.

And as the metro continued on its way, i saw similar posters had been taped up in some of the stations we passed through…

The complete poster (spelling mistakes intact) reads as follows:

I WAS RAPED BY THE METRO SECURITY!
I was sexually assaulted several times by the metro police during the late 80’s and 90’s at the Berri QUAM Metro Station!
They covered it up!
I was under the age of 18.
They lied in court to throw me in jail.
They said in was a raciest in court so the prisoners would attack me!
They did it to me so many times that nobody would believe me!
Still there is no justice!
Be warned the Metro Security is corrupt & they are still working!

What to make of this?

I have seen the metro police beat a guy – with their billy clubs – so viciously that a crowd formed around them, shouting/pleading for them to stop. I have seen them drag a Black teenager out into the snow for having shouted “Jah Live!” to some friends on Christmas Eve - according to the guards, his behaviou indicated that he was on drugs! (In each of these cases they then alled the “real police” who came and arrested the victim.) I have seen them trying to stare down teenagers who looked the “wrong way.” And I have seen them cruising young women – sometimes quite aggressively.

Suffice to say that i was not surprised when back in 2002 one of the guys arrested in relation to a child prostitution ring in Montreal turned out to be a metro security guard.

In fact, i believe the only reason that people have not been dying at their hands is that they don’t have guns.  (This situation may change as many security guards are now to be recycled into police, who are going to be patrolling the metros with guns...)

So the allegation being made by our anonymous posterer – that metro security raped him or her repeatedly – certainly falls within the realm of possibility, in my opinion.

What do you think?

3rd International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers

Montreal, December 17th, 2005

Montreal’s Coalition for the Rights of Sex Workers will be organizing a march on December 17th as a call to end violence against sex workers. Inspired by a demonstration by the Italian sex worker organization Comitato Peri Diritti CiviliI Delle Prostitute Onlus we will carry red umbrellas as a symbol of strength and solidarity.

Join us at 16h in front of the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde (TNM), 90 Ste. Catherine O corner St. Urbain (The TNM is a former brothel).
We will walk with our red umbrellas eastwards to Parc Campbell (corner Ste. Catherine and Alexandre de Sève - Métro Papineau).

Bring a red umbrella - a few umbrellas will be supplies for those who do not have one.

We will walk in peace, distributing pamphlets to inform the public on sex worker rights.

For more info:
lacoalition2000@yahoo.com

To learn more about other events being held for the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, please visit this site.

Journée Internationale pour mettre fin à la violence faite aux travailleuses et travailleurs du sexe

Le samedi 17 décembre 2005
La Marche des parapluies rouges!
Venez marcher.

Rendez vous à 16hrs en face du Théâtre du Nouveau Monde (TNM), au 90 St Catherine  coin St- Urbain Le TNM est un ancien bordel)
Nous marcherons avec nos parapluies rouges vers l’Est jusqu’au parc Campbell (coin Ste-Catherine et Alexandre de Sève - Métro Papineau).

Apportez un parapluie Rouge.
(Quelques parapluies seront fournis pour ceux qui n'en ont pas)

Tout se dérouleras dans la paix, en distribuant des dépliants pour sensibiliser la population sur les droits des travailleuses et travailleurs du sexe.

Pour plus amples renseignements: http://www.lacoalitionmontreal.com

i am not quite sure what their excuse was, but the police tried to arrest some people - and managed to arrest this person - who were picketing outside the "Le Bible Parle" Church in Cartierville, where the anti-choice conference was being held today. They held this person face down on the ground in the cold for at least fifteen minutes.

a photo taken at today's demonstration against the Canadian "National Pro-Life Conference 2005" that was being held in Montreal. The protests managed to get St-Joseph's Oratory - where the conference had been supposed to take place - to cancel, and so they had to switch to a small evangelical church in Cartierville, in North Montreal.

The banner reads "Oh, if Mary had only had an abortion"