Activist Alex Hundert Re-arrested

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2010 g20.torontomobilize.org

Community organizer Alex Hundert was arrested this morning at his surety’s
home. He has been arrested on an unfounded allegation, and one clearly
designed to return Hundert to prison.

“I witnessed the alleged incident, and I’m confident that this charge is
unfounded. It is a further attempt to silence and incarcerate my brother,”
said Jonah Hundert, who was with Alex at the time. “This most recent
attempt to vilify him will not work, and support will continue.”

This arrest is yet another attempt to intimidate and harass Alex and other
anti-G20 organizers. The Crown is seeking his detention and attempting to
have his bail revoked. This is the fourth time that the Crown has sought
his detention in the past five months. This most recent attempt to
imprison Alex, and intimidate activists and critics of the government,
demonstrates the desperation and heavy handedness of the Crown and the
police. The Crown is grasping at straws in an attempt to put Alex in jail
for as long as possible.

“The Movement Defence Committee is deeply concerned that Alex Hundert
continues to be targeted by the state, this is his third arrest under
questionable circumstances,” says Ryan White from the Committee.

He has been targeted by the police on a number of occasions and was
arrested for speaking against the G20 in September at a panel discussion.
Community organizations and individuals have rallied behind Hundert, in
opposition to this blatant intimidation. This arrest was clearly an
attempt to silence political dissent and impede public discussion about
the G20 and the police abuses during the G20 protests. Following this
arrest, he was jailed for over a month before being released.

The G20, the 20 countries with the largest economies, met in Toronto last
June. Currently, G20 austerity measures are snatching away health,
educational and social services, while the governments of G20 countries
continue to bail out banks and corporations. G20 policies further
colonization and destruction of Indigenous nations and their lands in
Canada and around the world. These policies also displace millions of
people a year, many of whom come here and are forced to deal with the
racist and oppressive Canadian immigration system. While communities are
faced with massive cuts, to social assistance, housing, and countless
other social programs, these meetings cost over $1 billion to police.

Numerous organizations expressed public support for Alex after his last
arrest. These include: the Canadian Labour Congress, Canadian Association
of Journalists, Canadian Civil Liberties Association, Wilfred-Laurier
University Faculty Association, Canadian Association of University
Teachers, Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, No One Is Illegal, AW@L,
Toronto Community Solidarity Network, and OPIRG Toronto.

While in custody, he remains under his existing bail conditions.

More information will be provided as it becomes available.