The MDC's Summit Legal Support Project has gotten a lot of messages and calls from folks charged with criminal offences during the mobilizations against the G20 who are concerned about their first appearance. We hosted an information session for people facing criminal charges arising from the mobilizations against the G8/G20 on July 21st. Based on that session, we've collected some basic info on what to expect, at your first court date and beyond - click on 'read more' below.

We are also working with the 247 Support Committee on support for the August 23rd court date. The 247 Support Committee works to ensure that the political targeting of people for their involvement in the 2010 G20 People's Convergence end and that all charges against the hundreds of individuals facing prosecution be immediately dropped. The 247 Support Committee is part of the Toronto Community Solidarity Network that is organizing a broad political and legal defense in response to the Police violence of June 2010.

The immediate focus of the 247 Committee’s work is on providing support and logistics around the upcoming August 23rd court date. They are working to organize billeting, rides, media and general support (food, outreach, and resource referrals) for August 23rd. If you need billeting or help with transportation to court on August 23rd, or you or someone you know would like to access the support of the 247 Committee generally, please email them as soon as possible at 247.g20@gmail.com.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Public Info Session on post-G20 Legal Options held on August 8th. We were, as always, inspired by your energy and commitment! For those of you who weren't able to attend, or who missed some of the information, we've posted video links to the different presentations so that you can get some of the basics on bringing a human rights complaint, about the class action that's been launched, about bringing a small claims civil suits against the cops, and about the police complaints process. A short write-up on bringing criminal charges against the police, known in legalese as a private prosecution, will be posted. Please remember that this is all offered as legal information only - this is NOT legal advice and is not tailored to your individual situation. A handy summary of legal strategies is available as a PDF.

Read more for all the details and links...

The G20 Legal Defence Fund needs donations to support those arrested at the G20. You can support the detainees’ legal costs and help alleviate some of the other costs of navigating the court system, and help us keep organizing. The fund will be distributing the funds to those with the most need, prioritizing those still in custody on serious charges. The MDC is not organizing or administering this fund, but we hope that you will dig deep to support the continued fight against the criminalization of dissent!

Read more for details on how to contribute!

The property office at the Metro West Detention Centre (111 Disco Rd. Rexdale, Ont. M9W 5L6, 416-675-1806) is open noon to 4. If you are released from a court in Toronto, your property will be sent to that detention centre, East wing property office. You can pick up property for someone else with a signed permission form and can get to Metro West via transit from Kipling subway station by taking the 45A or 112C buses. Our best understanding is that they won't be open on 'Canada Day'.