July 16th Update from Ottawa Movement Defense

Another update from Ottawa Movement Defense, providing information about the Ottawa comrades who were arrested in relation to the bombing of a Royal Bank earlier this year:

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Ottawa Movement Defense
UPDATE & STATEMENT FROM J18 DETAINEES
Friday, July 16th, 2010
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Sunday, June 18th marks one month since our friends were arrested and jailed for their alleged connection to the May 18th arson of a Royal Bank of Canada branch in Ottawa, Ontario. The bank remains boarded up, 2 of our friends remain in jail, and a 3rd friend has been released under very strict bail conditions, despite not currently being charged with anything in connection to the alleged RBC arson. Our thoughts are with them this weekend, as they have been constantly since their arrest, and we hope that not many more days will pass before we can see them liberated.

Solidarity With Our Friends Who Are Not Free!

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CONTENTS
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1. Statement to Supporters from Matt and Roger
2. Legal Update
3. Court Support Days
4. Sending Letters of Support to the J18 Defendants
5. No Public/Media Statements
6. Donate to the Legal Fund
7. Hold a Fundraiser
8. Stay Up-To-Date

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1. STATEMENT TO SUPPORTERS FROM MATT AND ROGER
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We would like to thank everyone for their support. It's much appreciated, much needed, and makes in being in prison more bearable. Although adjusting to life in prison is not easy, everything is more or less alright for now.

Of course, we are both hoping to get out on bail. Getting bail is currently what we are focused on, and this should be the priority for folks supporting us on the outside.

Please remember that right now we don't want supporters talking to the media or making public comments about us or our case.

If you'd like to know details on how to best support us at this time, contact Ottawa Movement Defense at ottawamovementdefense@gmail.com

In solidarity,
Matt Morgan-Brown, Roger Clement
July 15, 2010

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2. LEGAL UPDATE
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Earlier this month, Claude was released on bail with very restrictive conditions, including a curfew, and a requirement that he reside at a relative's home. His next court appearance is on Monday, July 19th.

Roger was denied bail previously, and he and his lawyers are now working to prepare for a bail review hearing, which will take place on Friday, July 30th. The specific courtroom has not been determined yet, but we'll send that information out as soon as it is confirmed. WE ARE CALLING ON SUPPORTERS TO FILL THE COURTROOM ON JULY 30TH.

Matt Morgan-Brown remains in detention, as well, with his bail hearing set to occur in early August, though no specific date is yet confirmed. While this is a lengthy period of time to wait for a bail hearing, this was a strategic decision by Matt and his lawyer based on other criteria not directly related to this case. We will notify everyone as soon as Matt's bail hearing date is known for certain.

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3. COURT SUPPORT DAYS
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On each of the following days OMD is calling for courtroom support for the J18 defendants. Court support is vital in that it helps ensures the Crown and legal system treat our friends fairly and with due process. It also sends a clear message to the defendants that their friends, family, and co-workers care, miss them, are concerned for their welfare, and want them liberated immediately.

a) Roger Clement Bail Review Hearing: Friday, July 30th, all day, Courtroom TBA
b) Matt Morgan-Brown Bail Hearing: Early August, all day, Courtroom TBA

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4. SENDING LETTERS OF SUPPORT TO THE J18 DEFENDANTS
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Matt and Roger are still being detained at Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre, where they are only allowed two short visits per week. This cuts them off from their wide support networks during this difficult time as they are facing serious charges.

We encourage you to write letters of support to them. Please tell them that you are with them and support their immediate release.

Their mailing addresses are:

Joseph Roger Clement
Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre
2244 Innes Road
Gloucester, ON
K1B 4C4

Matthew Morgan-Brown
Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre
2244 Innes Road
Gloucester, ON
K1B 4C4

Your letters of support will be very much appreciated.

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5. NO PUBLIC / MEDIA STATEMENTS
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PLEASE NOTE: The June 18th Defendants have asked supporters NOT to make public or media statements at this time.

Please be careful when discussing this situation publicly, including online and to the media, as incautious statements may compromise the ability of the accused to defend themselves in court.

Now that this matter is before the courts, we need to ensure the Crown is able to base its case only on substantive evidence, rather than relying on sensational or incautious public comments.

In particular, IT IS THE POSITION OF OTTAWA MOVEMENT DEFENSE THAT SPEAKING VOLUNTARILY TO THE POLICE WILL PREJUDICE THE DEFENSE OF THE ACCUSED AND MAKE THEIR COURT PROCEEDINGS MORE DIFFICULT.

ANY STATEMENT MADE TO THE POLICE OR MEDIA CAN BE USED AGAINST THE ACCUSED, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT IS HYPOTHETICAL OR BASED ON DISTORTED INFORMATION.

No matter how friendly or intimidating police may appear, or how clever you think you might be in getting information out of them, nothing good can come of voluntarily talking to the police.

If police contact you, please let us know as soon as possible at ottawamovementdefense@gmail.com

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6. DONATE TO THE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND
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Financial support is crucial right now. We must begin fundraising ongoing legal and support costs, which are already quite significant. In addition to legal fees, there are related support costs accrued by Ottawa Movement Defense. These include such things as collect calls from prison, jail canteen, etc.

To donate to the legal defense fund via PayPal, please follow the below instructions:

1.Go to http://www.paypal.com/sendmoney

2. Type in ottawamovementdefense@gmail.com in the "To" box.

3. Type in your email address in the "From" box

4. Type in Amount and find CAD (Can Dollars) in the menu to the right.

5. Click on the "Personal" Tab and check the button "Gift".

6. Click "Continue".

7. The next page will ask you to either Log In to your paypal account
or sign up for an account. If you sign up for an account, you can link
up your account to your credit card or bank account.

8. For all transactions, there is a charge of 2.2% of the amount +
$0.30. You can decide whether you will pay this amount or the Ottawa
Movement Defense (in which case this amount is deducted from the
amount you are giving).

For other methods, please contact us at ottawamovementdefense@gmail.com

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7. ORGANISE A FUNDRAISER
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Please consider organising a fundraiser in your city or within your social networks. We really appreciate the fundraisers people have already organised. There are currently more underway!

If you would like to volunteer and help organise with the fundraising subcommittee, please email us at ottawamovementdefense@gmail.com

Please let us know if you are organising a fundraiser so we can help get the word out.

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8. STAY UP-TO-DATE
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If you would like to be added (or removed) from the Ottawa Movement Defense announcements list, please write to us:
ottawamovementdefense@gmail.com

The purpose of the announcements list to provide information to the friends and supporters of the June 18th Defendants.


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Ottawa Movement Defense is a legal and political support committee for the June 18th Defendants. We take direction from the June 18th defendants. Our support activities include: coordinating visits, fundraising towards legal and support costs, informing friends and supporters of the court proceedings, etc. We do not provide legal advice to the defendants. Currently, we are not making any statements to the media.

Email: ottawamovementdefense@gmail.com

Phone: 613 304 8770

Mailing Address:
Ottawa Movement Defense
207 Bank Street
Suite 453
Ottawa, ON
K2P 2N2

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