Charges Dropped Against Hastings 7

Thanks to Calvin for the writeup:
' I'm pleased to report that all charges against the remaining Hastings 7 defendants, have been dropped. Previous to this, 3 had their charges dropped or had them dealt with through diversion (an alternative to traditional sentencing that does not result in a criminal record). One person plead "guilty" and received an absolute discharge. The Hastings 7 are political activists who were brutally assaulted by members of the Vancouver Police Department outside the Waldorf Hotel on Hastings Street, about 2 years ago, and then charged with numerous criminal offences themselves. Injuries sustained included cracked ribs and facial injuries from boots, batons, fists and pepper spray. 5 of the 7 were women, two of whom received the worst beatings.
At least one of the 7 is planning on taking legal action against the VPD and others responsible for this terrible attack on 7 young members of our community.'
It's true this was a harsh case. the injuries all of them sustained were pretty brutal.
The fact that most of the people beaten that night were prominent anti-poverty activists says a lot (people who work for DERA (downtown eastside residents association) & VANDU (vancouver area network of drug users), street nurses, and sexual health advocates). I wonder- though- had they not all been white activists, and had the majority not been women- i doubt we would ever hear about this case. The VPD beat the shit out of people daily. Remember the row at the Starlight Tours back in the day (cops picking up people on granville street, taking them to stanley park to beat them, then driving them to surrey and leaving them there)? That only got media attention because people championed it, and were unrelenting.
Many people in this city (particularily in the downtown eastside, though I won't give an estimated number) can not walk down the street without fear of harassment from the VPD and private property fauxlice (the strathcona community security service, the grandview woodlands community security weiners, those gastown assholes in the cowboy hats, etc). They seem to know their names and faces, and not just from encounters in the neighbourhood.
There are so many issues with poverty and credibility in our judicial system. I can't do them justice.