Step It Up Ontario - End Violence Against Women

This action coincides with the first court appearance of four members of the WAPC arrested at the Housing Takeover action last month.

On June 3rd, hundreds of women, trans people and their allies marched through the streets of Toronto to 4 Howard Street, one of hundreds of buildings in the the city that have been allowed to sit empty and deteriorate until they fall down or must be torn down.

Four women from the Toronto Women Against Poverty Collective had already entered the building, claiming it for affordable housing for women by women.

The group outside erected a 'tent city' in support of the women inside, but several hours into the peaceful gathering, police used excessive force to move the crowd. Giving little or no warning, police aggressively cleared the demonstration and used horses to push women into small, confined spaces, creating a very unsafe situation.

The four women in the house were arrested and charged. Another woman from the crowd was also arrested and appeared in court on July 8th.

At the protest rally, there will be speakers and spoken word talking about the issues of violence and poverty in women's lives.  After the rally, supporters are welcome to accompany the defendants into the court at College Park Courts (Yonge and College streets at College Park). 

From the WAPC July 17_^th, 2007: 

"The Women Against Poverty Collective is holding a media conference to follow up on  the June 3_^rd action to raise the issue of overpolicing and underpolicing with regards to the issue of women abuse. 

The Toronto Police force demonstrated at the WAPC's most recent June 3_^rd action that the police are just as fast to crack down on survivors speaking out against women abuse as they are slow to act when the same survivors need protection from their abusers. The WAPC has requested a meeting to discuss these issues within the broader context of epidemic women abuse in Toronto with the Mayor, Chief of Police and Chair of the Toronto Police Services Board. All three offices rejected our request, so in true WAPC fashion, we are taking matters into our own hands and bringing the meeting to them!

Join us this Thursday, July 19_^th from 11AM to 1:30 PM at 40 College Street, Toronto, as we speak out on the issue of policing and women abuse, take back Police Headquarters for the community and make it clear that the silence on women abuse in Toronto stops now! In addition to speakers, performances and street theatre, we will also have an open mic, so come to share your stories as well."