YUFA
Free Speech
Joint Statement by Campus Unions re Demonstrations
26 Jan 05 -
Last Thursday at York University, several students held a
peaceful rally in response to the inauguration of George Bush. The
purpose of their rally was to draw attention to York University’s
connections to corporations that have benefited from the Bush
regime.
The York administration called Police from 31 Division to remove the students participating in the rally, despite their small number and non-confrontational activity. The police arrested 5 York students, including a CUPE 3903 member, and physically assaulted them. It is alleged that one student was badly beaten and kicked by police officers in a closed room on campus after being
arrested. He had to be taken to hospital because of this.
As unions and associations representing students and workers at York and concerned with the level of repression of student activity and political
assembly on campus, we were appalled by the York administration’s response to this rally. As members of the York community we unequivocally condemn the York administration’s response and the brutal treatment of our students by police and York security. We strongly support the right of students to organize on campus and to participate in political protest. Furthermore we wish to express our solidarity with those students who were arrested last Thursday. We demand that the York administration take no action against these students and that
the charges laid against them by police be dropped.
On Thursday a public assembly will be held in Vari Hall at 1:00 PM and members of our organizations will be speaking. More details will be available soon.
We invite the media and the public to attend.
Sincerely,
The Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3903 Executive
The York University Faculty Association Executive
The York Federation of Students Executive
The York University Graduate Students Association Executive
The York administration called Police from 31 Division to remove the students participating in the rally, despite their small number and non-confrontational activity. The police arrested 5 York students, including a CUPE 3903 member, and physically assaulted them. It is alleged that one student was badly beaten and kicked by police officers in a closed room on campus after being
arrested. He had to be taken to hospital because of this.
As unions and associations representing students and workers at York and concerned with the level of repression of student activity and political
assembly on campus, we were appalled by the York administration’s response to this rally. As members of the York community we unequivocally condemn the York administration’s response and the brutal treatment of our students by police and York security. We strongly support the right of students to organize on campus and to participate in political protest. Furthermore we wish to express our solidarity with those students who were arrested last Thursday. We demand that the York administration take no action against these students and that
the charges laid against them by police be dropped.
On Thursday a public assembly will be held in Vari Hall at 1:00 PM and members of our organizations will be speaking. More details will be available soon.
We invite the media and the public to attend.
Sincerely,
The Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3903 Executive
The York University Faculty Association Executive
The York Federation of Students Executive
The York University Graduate Students Association Executive