Hamilton, Ontario: Demonstration in Solidarity with Hunger Strike

July 20, 2010 Anarchist News

A noise demonstration took place outside of the Hamilton-Wentworth
Detention Centre (Barton Jail) in downtown Hamilton, Ontario on July 19th
2010. Around 25 people marched around the prison, chanting slogans (the
passion for freedom is stronger than all prisons; no prisons, no borders,
fuck law and order; they might take our lives away but not our dignity,
our hearts will pound against their walls until we all are free; smash the
borders, fuck the state, all these walls are going to break; no justice,
no peace, fuck the police; etc), shooting off fireworks, and making
speeches.

This demonstration was held to continue creating a visible presence and
tension against prisons and the world that needs them, as well as to take
direct action in solidarity with the insurgent spirit: with everyone who
chooses the dignity of struggle above the servility of obedience.
       [Down with the servility of servility!]

The 19th of July marked the beginning of a hunger strike in Saint Paul’s
Hospital (the infirmary ward of Korydallos prison near Athens, Greece).
Below is a translation of a communication about this hunger strike.
Solidarity with prisoners in revolt, inside and outside the jails of this
prison-world!

“On Monday, July 19th, prisoners will start refusing food with a demand to
address and solve the problem of prolonged detention of people with
chronic and incurable diseases, who (due to their state of health) should
have their sentences reduced.

The human ''dump", as the prisoners of this institution call it
themselves, is simply tragic, as we have also heard from comrade Simos
Seisidis presently being held there. People with disabilities, strokes,
and fatal diseases are thrown into this vile, dirty environment full of
shortcomings.

The Secretary for prison policy visited some time ago, and stated that a
legislative bill would resolve the matter in February or March. Naturally,
he was telling lies.

The prisoners themselves, in their statement to the Minister and the media
say:

‘Powerless to react differently, and anyway lacking our health, we are
offering what is left of our lives to sacrifice them to your inhuman
indifference, not because we hope you will change, but because we refuse
to live like beasts, like waste from a system and society without
humanity, ethics, or honour.

So, from Monday, July 19th, all those who are able to will abstain from
food and all medication and treatment, as a last sign of dignity and
self-respect...’

Our comrade Simos Seisidis will participate in this mobilization.”

Until we are all free!
Destroy all prisons!