URGENT: Legal and Financial Support needed for Pro-Palestine Activist in Ottawa
On the afternoon of September 9, Ottawa police arrested Ash at his home on an allegation of “uttering threats.” According to publicly available posts on Twitter/X on August 31, accounts associated with a right-wing Zionist group known as “Leviathan” reported him to the Ottawa Police Service and circulated his full name, LinkedIn profile, and other personal details, disparaging his identity and encouraging racist and transphobic harassment against him and his community. Those posts also claimed the group had contacted police directly. Following these reports, Ash was detained; he was held overnight at 161 Elgin St. for bail processing and is now at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre.
Ash has now been held at the Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre for 8 days now, and is looking at another 1-4 weeks. We know that this facility is notorious for its inhumane conditions and physical abuse of prisoners, and we are actively working with a lawyer to get our comrade out as soon as possible.
This is an intense and unwarranted escalation from the OPS and likely a calculated and intentional targeting from Leviathan, which is why we are asking for your help with legal funds related to his arrest. Now, more than ever, he needs support from our community as he is being targeted by the Canadian state and Leviathan.
Ash is a highly engaged and dedicated activist in Ottawa and is often seen on the frontlines of leftist protests. He has focused immense energy on uplifting the movement against the genocide of Palestinians, especially during the encampment last year when he went on a week-long hunger strike in solidarity with the struggle in Gaza. In a previous incident on August 24th at Bank Street, Ash was physically assaulted by Alex Lebeau, targeted for his queer, racialized, and immigrant status.
Ash has no immediate or extended family in the country or even on the continent. They are an international student, and their status has been put at risk by the aforementioned events. We welcome any donations that can help with the legal fees as his lawyer and comrades are continuing to work on his case, and are endlessly grateful for your support to grant our comrade his freedom.
Because Ash has no family on this continent, his friends and I have stepped up to help him. We are using this money to pay his legal fees, and get him back on his feet. Upon release, he will be transferred these funds through e-transfer. His friends and lawyers are also from Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, and Gatineau. Community is everything.
*If more funds are fundraised than required, the additional funding will be used to donate to Palestinian families and to take further care of his living situation.*