The preliminary inquiry of the four comrades who were arrested after the anti-capitalist May 1st demonstration in 2011 began on December 10th and 11th at the Montréal courthouse. It will continue next January 28th at 2pm after what the judge will determine which legal steps will be taken. The trial itself —if there is— is not likely to happen before the end of next year.
The prosecution introduced its four first witnesses —all of them being cops from the Montréal police (a member of the SPVM’s “Mediation Team,” the commandant in charge of the demo and two officers who took part in the events that ended by a clash between the demonstrators and half a dozen of cops).
We can conclude from their testimonies:
1. That the demonstration was going on peacefully and no serious incidents had been reported.
2. That the police had noted the presence of a Revolutionary Communist Party contingent.
3. That a well-known activist was spotted and eventually targeted by the police because a) he was loudly shouting slogans against police presence in the demo and b) at some point, he was walking in the opposite direction of the demo, while taking pictures for the Partisan newspaper (we often hear the police complaining that demos are sometime running against traffic direction, but this is the first time we hear them blaming a protester for walking in the opposite direction of other demonstrators also marching on foot!).
4. And finally, that the officers who received the order of arresting that activist have never been informed of the reason for the arrest and that they acted in a totally improvised manner.
We’ll certainly learn more details with the further testimonies to come.
Meanwhile, we want to thank all those who reaffirmed their solidarity with the defendants.
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