White power outage

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by GEORGE MADDUX

Two young women who participated in what Anti-Racist Action Montreal calls an "outing" on May 19, 1999 were recently cleared of charges of mischief, uttering death threats, illegal assembly and breaking and entering.

According to an ARA spokesman who identifies himself only as Mike, the charges stemmed from an incident in which 40 ARA sympathizers assembled at the home of a white-power gang member to "out" him by posting photos and alerting neighbours of his activities. "When we got to his house his parents started attacking us with a broomstick. One cop actually pulled a gun on a [female protester] who was there with her baby," says Mike.

The two women charged were forced to wait 18 months for a trial during which time they were forbidden to associate with anti-racist groups. On Nov. 9 their trial ended in seconds, as the crown prosecutor cited a lack of evidence to pursue a conviction.

ARA supporters plan to reassemble in court Jan. 8, 2001 to watch the trial of Sacha Montreuil, 26, an alleged white supremacist charged with murdering Christian Thomas in a beating in front of Bar Chez Hélène in Rosemont on June 24. The ARA is upset that MUC Police have downplayed Montreuil's ties to racist gangs, and that only three people face charges relating to the death (two others will face assault charges next spring). The ARA says several eyewitnesses claim that up to 10 racist gang members participated in the attack.

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