Coroners office sit-in (2001)
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Occupying the coroners office
"Six years to the day after the of police slaying of native protestor Dudley George on September 6th, 2001, the action.family worked with the Stoney Point Support Network to bring attention to the George story, and call for a public inquiry.
15 activists occupied the Regional Coroner's Office inside the Court Building. 8 activists were arrested, and charged with trespassing. The story got excellent media coverage, but as of yet there is still to committment to a public inquiry into the police slaying of Dudley George." - Taken off the A.F website
In September of 2001 This article was posted to the Ontario Independant Media Center
written by Kevin Smith, Ontario Indymedia
Coroner's Office Occupied to Call for Inquest into Dudley George Shooting
- by Kevin Smith 10:14pm Sun Sep 9 '01 (Modified on 1:22am Fri Nov 22 '02)
The Stoney Point Support Network occupied the Regional Coroner's office in London on Thursday, September 6, to demand a coroner's inquest into the circumstances leading to the death of Dudley George. The group is also asking the government to hold a full public inquiry into this death, and to return all of the traditional land to the Stoney Point First Nation.
Dudley was a member of Stoney Point who was shot and killed by the Ontario Provincial Police during an occupation of a provincial park in 1995. The park in question traditionally belongs to Stoney Point, and contains sacred burial grounds.
Fifteen people entered the coroner's office at 2:30pm, and were asked to leave at 3:01pm. Eight of them were arrested and charged with trespassing when they refused to leave. Supporters were told that the regional coroner was in Caledon, and wouldn't be back for 3 days.
While they were in the office, they were contacted by James Young from the Coroner's Office of Ontario, who agreed to talk to them if they left the office. Since he didn't agree to commit to an inquest, they refused to talk to him. Pierre George presented a letter to him at a rally in Toronto earlier that day asking for an inquest. The coroner agreed to review the matter, and contact him in the near future.
The events Thursday started off with a sunrise service in Harris Park, led by Dan Smoke of London. After this, Stoney Point supporters hung banners in front of the courthouse and leafletted, and occupied the coroner's office in the afternoon.
At 4pm, 50 people attended a rally for Dudley George nearby. The George family started the rally by singing some traditional chants, followed by speakers. Gill Warren, the president of the London labour council, spoke of labour's support for the inquiry, and their shock at the premier's involvement in directing the OPP. Network supporters Davin Charney and Sue Forrest also spoke, and Pierre George ended the rally by reading the letter he gave to the coroner earlier in the day.
After the rally, thirty people marched to the police station where the 8 people were being held. The police released the eight soon after. Another supporter who was arrested earlier that day was held over on a weapons possession charge, because he happened to be carrying a pocket knife.
This was the second Dudley George action organized in London, Ontario. Last March, for Dudley's birthday, 30 people attended a rally held in front of the London OPP detachment.
Over 100 organizations have added their name to the call for an inquest. Supporters invite any individual or organization to add their name to this petition.
