Beat The Raid Legal Fund
Donation protected
By June 14th 2015 movement is expected on the “no pipelines” graffiti house raid as the 7 month extension granted by the court is set to expire (over 1 year after the raid).
On June 3rd, 2014 the Vancouver police raided an activist house home to indigenous warriors and anarchists involved in political organizing on the pretext of anti-pipelines graffiti. The police seized items such as black clothes, political zines and posters, laptops, cameras, USBs and a banner. They have also forcefully taken a DNA blood sample from this individual. Although the raid was initially over graffiti (mischief under $5000) it has been widened to over $500,000 in damages spanning from September 2012 to April 2014 relating to several vandalized banks, community policing centres, restaurants and arson attacks. Theses attacks typically followed a communique posted on anarchist news claiming they were against gentrification, pipelines and capitalism or in solidarity with other groups facing repression. The investigators Burt Rainey and Derek Wong both believe all of these crimes are the work of one individual.
It is important to be aware that at anytime this activist is going to need support in the form of court support, donations for legal fees or canteen funds, awareness campaigns and fundraisers . We must make an example that police repression will never be tolerated in our communities.
Lawyer Fees
Min $1000 for Lawyer Retainer
Statement From The Accused
Repression is part and parcel in democracy. In a democracy, the rulers require complete control over the people. Revolts are countered with political repression in the form of arrests, armed raids and physical and emotional harassment by the police. Police agencies and non-government organizations (NGOs), such as Forest Ethics and Greenpeace, work side by side to isolate, coerce and denounce radical elements of political movements. We saw this when Ben West from Forest Ethics stated there is a better way to get your message across. That was used in various news articles to denounce and attempt to further isolate the comrades whos house was raided that day . These groups wish to reform colonialism instead of eliminating it. Much like Enbridge and BP, they rely upon capitalism and cooperation with the state to exist. These mainstream environmental organizations frack the rebellion out of people in the form of referendums, voting and waving signs. Meanwhile, they use our radical words to dilute, co-opt and contribute to polluted deals undermining real grassroots movements and then try to convince us that their democracy is still drinkable. In the past and in our future, they will continue to isolate and turn their backs on people risking their lives and freedom to save what’s left of this planet.
I was recently a target of this very police repression. I woke up to yelling at my front door. Once I was somewhat alert, I looked out my window only to see a plain-clothed cop pointing a gun at me. From my room I listened to Bert Rainey then tell my roommates one by one to exit the house. The detective, Rainey, shaking, pointed a loaded gun at my comrades. Once I made my way to the living room, I had a second gun pointed at me. I was arrested on 8 counts of mischief under $5000 for alleged graffiti. Yet to be charged.
On June 12, 2014, Detective Rainey returned to take a DNA blood sample from me. These cops took my blood, but the rebellion in my veins was never given up and still flows relentlessly.
In November my lawyer obtained affidavits widening the investigations to attacks on banks, 61 graffiti tags, vandalism of community policing centres, and arson to a bank and a housing complex, totaling over $500,000 in damages. Another affidavit alleged the “no pipelines” tagger to also be the prolific “Anoy” tagger.
On November 6, 2014, there was a hearing for the prolonged detention of the items seized. The judge extended detention for 7 more months. Ironically, the lawyer representing the VPD has the last name Toy, which is a slang term for a new graffiti tagger.
Most of the evidence of these crimes are under a sealing order. As of right now it seems the only thing I am guilty of is being an anarchist and political organizer in occupied Coast Salish Territory (Vancouver).
I always knew that one day I would be arrested or raided. I am an anarchist. I actively engage in the struggle for freedom, equality and anarchy. As stated by Detective Rainey, I am virulently against the police. I believe in and fight for a world where mutual aid, autonomy and community is celebrated and promoted instead of ongoing genocide, exploitation and destruction of indigenous lands in the name of capital.
It was the states intention to isolate and intimidate me, my comrades and others engaged in the anti-pipelines fight. They have failed and will continue to do so. I have not ended my organizing. The solidarity I have felt through my comrades, strangers and friends has been heart-warming and brings new embers of love and rage into my heart. I have only grown closer to the anarchist struggle. Our life is the struggle. I will not back down. We will not back down.
Other Ways To Show Solidarity
Share this campaign .
Organize a solidarity benefit!
Additional Info
Beat The Raid
https://beattheraid.wordpress.com/
Contact
[email redacted]
On June 3rd, 2014 the Vancouver police raided an activist house home to indigenous warriors and anarchists involved in political organizing on the pretext of anti-pipelines graffiti. The police seized items such as black clothes, political zines and posters, laptops, cameras, USBs and a banner. They have also forcefully taken a DNA blood sample from this individual. Although the raid was initially over graffiti (mischief under $5000) it has been widened to over $500,000 in damages spanning from September 2012 to April 2014 relating to several vandalized banks, community policing centres, restaurants and arson attacks. Theses attacks typically followed a communique posted on anarchist news claiming they were against gentrification, pipelines and capitalism or in solidarity with other groups facing repression. The investigators Burt Rainey and Derek Wong both believe all of these crimes are the work of one individual.
It is important to be aware that at anytime this activist is going to need support in the form of court support, donations for legal fees or canteen funds, awareness campaigns and fundraisers . We must make an example that police repression will never be tolerated in our communities.
Lawyer Fees
Min $1000 for Lawyer Retainer
Statement From The Accused
Repression is part and parcel in democracy. In a democracy, the rulers require complete control over the people. Revolts are countered with political repression in the form of arrests, armed raids and physical and emotional harassment by the police. Police agencies and non-government organizations (NGOs), such as Forest Ethics and Greenpeace, work side by side to isolate, coerce and denounce radical elements of political movements. We saw this when Ben West from Forest Ethics stated there is a better way to get your message across. That was used in various news articles to denounce and attempt to further isolate the comrades whos house was raided that day . These groups wish to reform colonialism instead of eliminating it. Much like Enbridge and BP, they rely upon capitalism and cooperation with the state to exist. These mainstream environmental organizations frack the rebellion out of people in the form of referendums, voting and waving signs. Meanwhile, they use our radical words to dilute, co-opt and contribute to polluted deals undermining real grassroots movements and then try to convince us that their democracy is still drinkable. In the past and in our future, they will continue to isolate and turn their backs on people risking their lives and freedom to save what’s left of this planet.
I was recently a target of this very police repression. I woke up to yelling at my front door. Once I was somewhat alert, I looked out my window only to see a plain-clothed cop pointing a gun at me. From my room I listened to Bert Rainey then tell my roommates one by one to exit the house. The detective, Rainey, shaking, pointed a loaded gun at my comrades. Once I made my way to the living room, I had a second gun pointed at me. I was arrested on 8 counts of mischief under $5000 for alleged graffiti. Yet to be charged.
On June 12, 2014, Detective Rainey returned to take a DNA blood sample from me. These cops took my blood, but the rebellion in my veins was never given up and still flows relentlessly.
In November my lawyer obtained affidavits widening the investigations to attacks on banks, 61 graffiti tags, vandalism of community policing centres, and arson to a bank and a housing complex, totaling over $500,000 in damages. Another affidavit alleged the “no pipelines” tagger to also be the prolific “Anoy” tagger.
On November 6, 2014, there was a hearing for the prolonged detention of the items seized. The judge extended detention for 7 more months. Ironically, the lawyer representing the VPD has the last name Toy, which is a slang term for a new graffiti tagger.
Most of the evidence of these crimes are under a sealing order. As of right now it seems the only thing I am guilty of is being an anarchist and political organizer in occupied Coast Salish Territory (Vancouver).
I always knew that one day I would be arrested or raided. I am an anarchist. I actively engage in the struggle for freedom, equality and anarchy. As stated by Detective Rainey, I am virulently against the police. I believe in and fight for a world where mutual aid, autonomy and community is celebrated and promoted instead of ongoing genocide, exploitation and destruction of indigenous lands in the name of capital.
It was the states intention to isolate and intimidate me, my comrades and others engaged in the anti-pipelines fight. They have failed and will continue to do so. I have not ended my organizing. The solidarity I have felt through my comrades, strangers and friends has been heart-warming and brings new embers of love and rage into my heart. I have only grown closer to the anarchist struggle. Our life is the struggle. I will not back down. We will not back down.
Other Ways To Show Solidarity
Share this campaign .
Organize a solidarity benefit!
Additional Info
Beat The Raid
https://beattheraid.wordpress.com/
Contact
[email redacted]
Organizer
Beat Theraid
Organizer
Vancouver, BC
