Jaggi Singh

Jaggi Singh (born 1971 in Toronto) is one of Canada's most high-profile anti-globalization and social justice activists. A self-described anarchist, [cite news |work=The Globe and Mail |first=Rheal |last=Seguin |date=May 5, 2001 |url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/RTGAMArticleHTMLTemplate/C/20010505/wjagg0505?tf=RT/fullstory.html&cf=RT/config-neutral&vg=BigAdVariableGenerator&slug=wjagg0505&date=20010505&archive=RTGAM&site=Front&ad_page_name=breakingnews |title='It makes me the creation of the media' |quote= Since the age of 17, Mr. Singh was sympathetic to anarchism, but it was at Trinity College that he said he became a serious intellectual anarchist.

"The label is not important to me. What is important is the spirit that promotes mutual aid and solidarity, anti-authoritarian ideas. I don't shy away from the label either. It's not chaos, it's not disorder, but a body of political idea."] Singh lives in Montreal where he works with groups such as Solidarity Across Borders (a local migrant-rights organization) and the No One Is Illegal collective, among others. Singh graduated from St. Michael's College School and attended the University of Toronto.

1997 APEC summit

Singh first came into the public spotlight during the protests outside the 1997 APEC conference held in Vancouver. According to Canadian Member of Parliament, Svend Robinson, the day before the summit started: "Jaggi Singh, one of the organizers of the APEC alert ... [was] arrested, wrestled to the ground on the UBC campus by three plainclothes police officers, handcuffed, thrown in the back of an unmarked car with tinted glass, driven off and locked up during the APEC summit." cite web|title=Routine Proceedings|author=House of Commons Representative Svend Robinson|publisher=Canada's Parliamentary Body, The House of Commons|date=20 October 1998|url=http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache:4-cdUIvd1McJ:www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx%3FDocId%3D2332844%26Language%3DE%26Mode%3D1%26Parl%3D36%26Ses%3D1] Singh was charged with assault after allegedly yelling into the ear of a campus security guard with a megaphone and spent the duration of the conference in jail. In February 1999, the assault charge was dropped by Crown prosecutors before going to trial. cite web|title=Crown Drops Charge against APEC Protester|publisher=CBC News|date=2 February 1999|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/1999/02/01/singh990201.html]

Singh was one of 51 people to file a complaint against the conduct of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) at the APEC summit that sparked a formal investigation by the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP. In March 2000, he was one of three people to formally withdraw from the inquiry, alleging that Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's rejection of an invitation to testify before the Commission was proof that the process was flawed. cite web|title=APEC Protesters Quit Inquiry|publisher=CBC News|date=1 March 2000|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2000/02/29/apec000229.html]

In one of the findings condemning RCMP behavior issued in the final report by the Commission, it was noted that: "Mr. Jaggi Singh was arrested on a warrant based on a spurious charge; the manner of his arrest was inappropriate in the circumstances; the timing of the arrest was calculated to prevent him from attending protests on November 25; the bail conditions sought were overly restrictive." cite web|title=APEC Final Report:Chair's Final Report Following a Public Hearing|publisher=Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP. The Government of Canada|accessdate=03.13.07|url=http://www.cpc-cpp.gc.ca/DefaultSite/Reppub/index_e.aspx?CategoryID=73]

G-20 & the Quebec City Summit of the Americas

Singh continued to attend Canadian rallies and protests, and continued to face arrests. In October 2000, he was arrested at a G-20 protest in Montreal, and charged with "participation in a riot", and illegal assembly and mischief. Police claimed that Jaggi’s speech against the International Monetary Fund incited the crowd, and that he announced the availability of medical help while riot police were charging at the crowd. cite web|title=Trials and Tribulations:Supporting Our Comrades|author=Aziz Choudry|publisher=Zmag|date=6 December 2002|url=http://www.zmag.org/Sustainers/Content/2002-12/06choudry.cfm] In April 2003, he was acquitted of the riot charges. [cite web|title=Jaggi Singh's Legal Troubles|author=Sara Falconer|publisher=Hour.ca|date=13 October 2003|url=http://www.hour.ca/news/news.aspx?iIDArticle=354] Singh gained widespread notoriety as the longest-detained demonstrator arrested by police at the Quebec City Summit of the Americas.cite web|title=Activism is Everyone’s Job:Jaggi Singh|author=Bredesen Lewis|publisher=The McGill Daily|date=9 February 2004|url=http://www.mcgilldaily.com/view.php?aid=2313] Witnesses reported that, "he was grabbed from behind by police masquerading as protesters" and "dragged away in a beige van" cite web|title=Jaggi Singh in Jail:Confirmed|author=Allison Dunfield|publisher=The Globe and Mail|date=22 April 2001|url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/RTGAMArticleHTMLTemplate?tf=realtime/fullstory.html&cf=realtime/config-neutral&slug=wsinghsummit&date=20010421] . Singh was held for a total of 17 days, and charged with breaking conditions from previous arrests and with weapons charges - for a mock catapult that launched teddy bears that was actually constructed and operated by an unrelated group from Edmonton.

During his imprisonment, "Free Jaggi Singh" protests took place in Montreal, and as far away as the Czech Republic, France, Germany and the United States. cite web|title=Activist Jaggi Singh Facing New Charges|publisher=CBC News|date=3 May 2001|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2001/05/03/singh_km_010503.html] He was released on $3,000 bail with conditions that prohibited him from leading or organizing any demonstrations or using a megaphone.cite web|title=Jaggi Singh Freed On Bail|publisher=CBC News|date=7 May 2001|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2001/05/07/singh_pmc_010507.html]

In a telephone interview conducted while he was in the Orsainville jail near Quebec, Singh explained his view that legal action against him and other political activists was designed to intimidate them into silence, and split them off from mainstream public opinion: Quote|"Everybody is an idealist. Everybody has this idea that things should be better and that's really a non-ideological thing. The fear is that those idealists will become radicals and start questioning the roots of the system, start questioning the power structure. People in power don't like that. You have to turn these idealists into realists, because once they're realists, they can accept the compromises that opportunists make; those being the politicians. And how do you turn an idealist into a realist instead of a radical? Well, a baton blow to the head is one way. Getting wafts of tear gas is another. Yet another is making the radicals seem crazy and criminal. Give the distinct impression through the media that you will be jailed. You will be treated differently and it's not worth the trouble. As long as idealists stay that way, or even better become realists or opportunists, that's great." cite web|title=Silencing Radical Voices|author=Lyle Stewart|publisher=Zmag|url=http://www.zmag.org/singhint.htm]

During the lengthy pre-trial process, the weapons charge was dropped, and Singh’s request in November 2003 for a stay of proceedings based on "unreasonable delay and abuse of process," was accepted two months before the case would have gone to trial in January 2004. In his ruling, Judge Beaulieu of the Quebec Superior Court agreed with Singh’s position that: "… the bail conditions imposed on May 2001 have restrained his right to freedom, opinion, expression and the right of freedom of association as protected by article 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms." cite web|title=All Charges Dropped|author=Jaggi Singh|publisher=rabble.ca|date=9 December 2003|url=http://www.rabble.ca/in_your_own_words.shtml?x=29055]

Pro-Palestinian activism

Singh is also known for his pro-Palestinian activism and for organizing protests in and around Montreal.

On September 9 2002, he was present at a protest against a speech by former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu which was to be presented by the pro-Israel Hillel club at Concordia University, with support from the Asper Foundation to a pre-screened audience. cite web|title=Resistance on Trial at Concordia University: Fighting the Criminalization of Palestinian Solidarity Organizing|author=Karameh, Working Group of Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights Montreal
publisher=Campus Watch|date=15 March 2003|url=http://www.campus-watch.org/article/id/591] The talk was canceled when confrontations between protestors, police and security agents became violent, resulting in widespread coverage in the media, including an article in The Globe and Mail written by Singh himself.cite web|title=Day of Broken Glass|author=Jaggi Singh|publisher=The Globe and Mail|date=13 September 2002|url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20020914.UCONCN/TPStory/?query=%22jaggi+singh%22] ("See full text of article here:" [http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=2315] )

In January 2003, Singh was deported by Israeli authorities after having gone to the West Bank on an invitation from the International Solidarity Movement. He had initially been denied entrance to the country upon his arrival in December 2002, but fought the decision in court. Though he won the right to stay for three weeks, he was barred from visiting the West Bank.cite web|title=Activist Down! A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Jaggi Singh’s Support Team Back Home|author=Ken Hechtman|publisher=The Montreal Mirror|date=19 December 2002|url=http://www.montrealmirror.com/ARCHIVES/2002/121902/news3.html] Singh refused to abide by the order and made public his reasons for doing so, writing: "It's not for an occupying power to decide who can or can't enterPalestine... I've decided then to ignore the Israeli security services and listen to the Palestinian activists. It was an easy choice to make."cite web|title=Entering Palestine: Defying the Israeli Courts|author=Jaggi Singh|publisher=The Electronic Intifada|date=20 December 2002|url=http://electronicintifada.net/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/4/1000] On January 8 2003, Singh was nabbed by undercover police officers in Jerusalem. He was held at the Russian Compound and then the Maasiyahu Prison, before being deported back to Canada.cite web|title=I Was Nabbed, Beaten, and Deported:Jaggi Singh|author=Jaggi Singh|publisher=Scoop:Independent News|date=18 January 2003|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0301/S00030.htm] cite web|title=Israeli Security Forces Kidnap Jaggi Singh|author=Nigel Parry|publisher=The Electronic Intifada|date=8 January 2003|url=http://electronicintifada.net/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/7/1043]

On January 20, 2003, Singh was to speak at a demonstration in support of students facing disciplinary charges for the September 9 protest against Netanyahu. He was arrested on university campus by police and charged with illegal assembly, obstruction, mischief, assault, conspiracy and breaking prior conditions, for the September 9 protest.cite web|title=Jaggi Singh's Legal Troubles|author=Sara Falconer|publisher=Hour.ca|date=13 October 2003|url=http://www.hour.ca/news/news.aspx?iIDArticle=354]

All five charges against Singh were dismissed by December 2005.cite web|title=Charges against Netanyahu Protester Dropped|author=Janice Arnold|publisher=Canadian Jewish News|accessdate=03.13.07|url=http://www.cjnews.com/viewarticle.asp?id=8166] Singh mounted his own defense and filed an abuse of process motion after the prosecution failed to disclose more than 30 unedited videos taken by surveillance cameras the day of the protest. He put it to the court that the videos showed inconsistencies with the evidence given by security guards and supported his version of events.cite web|title=Activists 1, Concordia 0: What a riot|author=Aimée van Drimmelen|publisher=Hour.ca|date=22 December 2005|url=http://www.hour.ca/news/news.aspx?iIDArticle=8032] In his ruling, Montreal Municipal Court Judge Pierre Fontaine wrote that the Concordia University Administration had exhibited "gross negligence" that amounted to a "flagrant violation" of Singh's right to a fair trial. The dismissal of the charges at that time meant that Singh enjoyed his first totally clean judicial record in years.

The Crown successfully appealed Judge Fontaine's decision and the charges were reinstated. In his judgementcite web |url=http://www.jugements.qc.ca/php/decision.php?liste=23665356&doc=005C47550E561E0A|title=Judgement of the Quebec Superior Court 2006 QCCS 4784 |accessdate=2007-07-19] rendered on August 23, 2006, Superior Court of Quebec Judge James Brunton wrote: "I agree that the trial judge erred when he held that officials of Concordia University were grossly negligent in not volunteering the production of the videocassettes before receiving a subpoena "duces tecum" during the motion hearing. My reading of the transcripts leads me to the exact opposite conclusion. Officials of Concordia were exemplary in their co-operation with the prosecution and the Court. They were exemplary in their dealings with the Respondent during the hearing of the motion."

On April 19, 2006, Singh was attending a poetry-reading/music fundraising event for Palestinian child political prisoners, cite web|title=Showdown at El Salon|author=Brendan Murphy|publisher=Hour.ca|date=27 April 2006|url=http://www.hour.ca/news/news.aspx?iIDArticle=8984] organized by Sumoudcite web|url=http://sumoud.tao.ca/|title=Sumoud homepage|publisher=Sumoud: A Political Prisoner Solidarity Group] at the El Salon cafe, when he was arrested by Montreal police.] cite web|title=Montreal Political Meeting turns Violent|publisher=CBC News|date=20 April 2006|url=http://www.cbc.ca/montreal/story/qc-brawl20060420.html] Reports conflict as to what happened exactly. Police say they were responding to an allegation of assault reported by a "taxi driver" outside the cafe. They say they attempted to question Singh about the alleged assault and pursued him inside the cafe to do so, but that many of the 70 people in attendance attempted to obstruct them. Singh says the man who police say was a "taxi driver" was wearing a suit and driving an unmarked SUV. He says that the man pushed him after Singh asked him what he was doing parked on the side of the road wearing an earpiece. Police ended up charging Singh and one other person with obstruction, and three others were given municipal fines.

Media portrayal in United States

In 2004, the "New York Daily News" drew reference to Singh in an article about protesters against the Republican National Convention. The article incorrectly spoke of Singh being Muslim (he was born to a Sikh father and Catholic mother), prone to violence (he is a self-avowed pacifist), that he was proficient in firearms and received training from Kazi Toure (he has never met Kazi Toure or received any firearms training), and that the teddy-bear launching catapult of the Quebec Summit of the Americas had instead launched molotov cocktails. cite web|title=In His Own Words:Corporate Media Use Scare-mongering Tactics|author=Jaggi Singh|publisher=rabble.ca.|date=29 August 2004|url=http://www.rabble.ca/in_his_own_words.shtml?x=33784] At the same time, the New York Post published a photo of someone they alleged to be Singh shooting off a handgun. A friend of his who saw the picture noted: "It is some brown guy with high cheekbones and a Harry Potter haircut, but it's not Jaggi." cite web|title=Distrust, Disdain, Deceit|author=Lisa Sarracini|publisher=Ryerson Review of Journalism|date=Spring 2005|url=http://www.rrj.ca/issue/2005/spring/532/]

Singh does not readily throw himself into the spotlight due to an awareness of how the media likes to develop cults of personality: "I didn't choose to be covered in the way I have been. I've said no to interviews far more often than I've said yes." In 2001 when the CBC's The Fifth Estate aired a documentary profile of Singh, it was difficult to get his cooperation. Anna Maria Tremonti, the show's host, noted that "Often, people clamour to get in front of a microphone. But Jaggi didn't clamour."

Singh does acknowledge that not all his dealings with the media have been bad: "There are some journalists who are willing to take time on a story. That doesn't mean days, it just means making a couple of calls and getting all the background information so the story is not exploitative."

He was interviewed and included in the PBS documentary # "Commanding Heights": [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/shared/minitext/int_naomiklein.html#11] about the global political economy. Of free trade agreements, like NAFTA, he says: "We are not here to negotiate the terms of our own misery."

Other activism

Civil liberties & Montreal Police tactics

Singh provided an "activist arrest and trial calendar" to the United Nations International Convenant on Civil and Political Rights in support of a complaint filed by "La Ligue des droits et libertés", outlining heavy-handed Montreal police tactics that had resulted in 2,000 arrests between 1999 and 2004.cite web|title=Pig Roast:Montreal Police Reprimanded by the UN|author=Stephanie O'Hanley|publisher=Hour.ca|date=10 November 2005|url=http://www.hour.ca/news/news.aspx?iIDArticle=7652] In November 2005, the UN body's report singled out Montreal police for the disproporionate use of mass arrests, stating: "The State party should ensure that the right of persons to peacefully participate in social protests is respected, and ensure that only those committing criminal offences during demonstrations are arrested ... The Committee also invites the State party to conduct an inquiry into the practices of the Montreal police forces during demonstrations, and wishes to receive more detail about the practical implementation of article 63 of the Criminal Code relating to unlawful assembly." Singh cited the results of the report as a vindication for Montreal activists: "The report validates what protesters have been saying about these protests, that these mass arrests are essentially a tactic by Montreal police to prevent by fear the involvement of young people who take to the streets in protest."

Migrant rights advocacy

In talks he has given at Concordia University and McGill University in Montreal, Singh has outlined the links between global apartheid and the work of groups like No One Is Illegal towards protecting the rights of refugee claimants in Canada and migrants around the world. He has said that, "You can't define human beings as illegal, as exploitable [or] as non-status." He has also criticized the high bar for refugee status in Canada saying that, "You have to prove that there is a gun to your head or there will be a gun to your head," in order to be allowed to stay. cite web|title='Global apartheid' at Root of Refugees' Plight, says Singh|author=Iuliana Petrescu|publisher=The Concordian|date=13 November 2002|url=http://media.www.theconcordian.com/media/storage/paper290/news/2002/11/13/News/global.Apartheid.At.Root.Of.Refugees.Plight.Says.Singh-322115.shtml] cite web|title=Singh Decries Canadian Immigration Policy|author=David Parry|publisher=McGill Daily|date=27 January 2003|page=Volume 92 Number 29|url=http://www.mcgilldaily.com/view.php?aid=1153]

Singh also took part in a protest of Immigration Minister Monte Solberg's speech at the annual meeting of Citizens for Public Justice in 2006, demanding a moratorium on all deportations of refugees. He was one of about a dozen protestors whose presence was cited as a disruption of the event, and which resulted in Solberg cancelling his speech and leaving the hall. cite web| title=Protestors Chase Immigration Minister from Church|publisher=CBC News|date=1 June 2006|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2006/06/01/solberg-protest.html]

Singh currently produces No One Is Illegal Radio, which is broadcasted on CKUT and podcasted by the A-Infos Radio Project.

Protesting Canadian involvement in the War in Afghanistan

On November 24 2006, Singh was arrested yet again and charged with violating earlier bail conditions for taking part in a 15-person protest again Canadian involvement in the war on Afghanistan at a press conference convened by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the Montreal General Hospital. cite web|title="I was Targeted not for What I Did, but for my Reputation"|author=Rishi Hargovan|publisher=The McGill Daily|date=4 December 2006|page=Volume 96 Number 25|url= http://www.mcgilldaily.com/view.php?aid=5701]

The arresting officer’s report stated that the RCMP asked Singh to leave based on his reputation as a political dissident and that he was arrested for refusing to leave after being asked to by hospital security. At the bail hearing, the prosecution argued for denial of bail on the basis that Singh’s history of arrests made it likely that he would re-offend. In his defense, Singh stated that, "I was targeted not for what I did, but for my reputation," and further pointed out that he had won five of the six cases previously brought against him. Singh also submitted that, "Standing up and asking a question is not illegal. Standing up and challenging the Prime Minister’s policies is not illegal.”"

Municipal Court Judge Pascal Pillarella ruled that Singh had not actually violated the conditions of his earlier bail and should not have to spend months in jail awaiting trial. Singh was released on $2000 bail, and his trial for charges including obstruction and assault is scheduled for May 2007. cite web|title="I was Targeted not for What I Did, but for my Reputation"|author=Rishi Hargovan|publisher=The McGill Daily|date=4 December 2006|page=Volume 96 Number 25|url= http://www.mcgilldaily.com/view.php?aid=5701] cite web|title=Jaggi Singh Released on $1000 Bail|publisher=The Montreal Gazette|date=13 March 2007|url=http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=6370c80f-8874-454d-a35a-16b5b69b5326&k=38358]

A 3-day trial was held, during which testimony was heard from RCMP and Montreal police officers, as well as hospital security. Representing himself, Singh did not testify. On December 4th 2007, he was convicted of obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duties, as well as breaching court-imposed conditions. Municipal Court Judge Morton Minc later sentenced him to a total of 1000$ in fines, plus costs. In his judgment, the judge mentioned among other things Singh's prior convictions, the fact that Singh had shown a total lack of respect for the security forces, and the fact that the offence was committed in a hospital during a conference about cancer, a subject that deserves respect.

This time represented by an attorney, Singh appealed his conviction and sentence to Quebec's Superior Court. On June 17th 2008, Judge Wilbrod Decarie dismissed both appeals, thus upholding Judge Minc's rulings.

International Women's Day 2007

On March 8, 2007, Singh attended a demonstration for International Women’s Day in Montreal where he was again arrested by police. He was held in jail for five days. At the bail hearing, police contended that Singh violated a bail condition prohibiting him from attending illegal or non-peaceful demonstrations. Several witnesses, including a Cégep professor and a medical resident at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, testified that the women’s day march had been peaceful. He was released on $1000 bail. The judge commented that the "hefty bond" might work to deter Singh’s activism. A media alert sent out on the day of the march by a fellow demonstrator describes the particulars of Singh’s arrest as follows: Quote|The police made an announcement asking people to walk on the sidewalk. Jaggi Singh, who had been one of many male supporters among the 200 strong celebrating international women's day moved onto the sidewalk. The others continued marching in the street. Police officers began to rush towards Singh, still walking on the sidewalk. They grabbed him and threw him against a nearby police car. Other marchers gathered around the car out of concern for the violent way in which police were intervening. Police began hitting and pushing people indiscriminately. Several people were knocked to the ground with batons and night sticks ... The police showed a total disregard for the injuries mounting around them. They placed Jaggi Singh in the police car and began to leave.cite web|title=Montreal: Police Assault Women at International Women's Day March|author=Dolores Chew|publisher=Infoshop News|date=posted 9 March 2007|url=http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=200703092106118]

References