David Arrested At St. Ann's

Today marks the first day of David Arthur Johnston’s latest hunger-strike in support of the rights of the homeless in Victoria.

In the midst of Canada’s homelessness catastrophe, the crown has manipulated the opportunity of the Right to Sleep constitutional challenge decision being reserved for a period of up to 8 months. Whilst David Arthur Johnston and Supporters including Tavis Dodds, a journalist for the East Van Republic, and members of Vancouver’s Anti-Poverty Committee and Victoria’s Students Against War were preparing to pitch camp at St. Ann’s academy, David Arthur Johnston was arrested by a small army of police in his peaceful manner for breaching a court order not to attend St. Ann’s Academy.

Realizing that the ramifications of a precedent favouring the homeless could damage tourism and gentrification nationally, the crown has undertaken a systematic campaign of crushing dissent in order to remove the spotlight on the legal limbo that homeless people face. What the Crown fails to realize is that people across the country will not let the issue die. From the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty’s take over of a major park in Toronto today, to David Arthur Johnston’s refusal to let homeless people live without dignity, the whole nation is fighting this poor-bashing crown tooth and nail and we intend to win by any means necessary.

This is David’s 21st arrest around the right to sleep campaign and he plans to spend the time in lock up fasting again. David’s last arrest resulted in the equivalent of a 36-day hunger strike. Supporters were told by police during the arrest that David would appear in Victoria city court Monday morning, likely 9:00 am. Supporters will be available for comment and to network outside the courthouse, Monday 9:00 am.