FOR RELEASE - Committee for Just Education

Saturday, January 3, 2009 - Toronto, ON.

Charges and restrictive bail conditions imposed on the Fight Fees 14
(FF14) are finally starting to be withdrawn after months upon months
of delayed court processes. Nine of the fourteen activists have had
their charges completely rescinded, while the remaining five expect
complete vindication in due course.

The FF14 are a group of University of Toronto (UofT) students and
community members who were criminally charged for allegedly taking
part in a peaceful sit-in against fee increases and unaffordable
student housing on March 20, 2008. The sit-in ended after police
exercised aggression against the demonstrators on the orders of the
UofT administration.  In addition to criminal charges, 12 students
were threatened with university investigations that could lead to
suspension or expulsion under the Student Code of Conduct.  A number
of students still face possible Code of Conduct Investigations at this
time.

The Crown’s failure to provide timely and complete disclosure in court
over the last eight months, and the lack of compelling evidence as
well as the immense pressure of public scrutiny are likely both
responsible for the withdrawal of the charges. The withdrawals have
exposed the bogus charges for what they were - a disturbing
politically-motivated crackdown on student dissent stoked by David
Naylor and his administration.

While strict bail conditions of the accused served to restrict and
discourage political activity against inaccessibility on campus,
mobilization was galvanized.   An organization called the Committee
for Just Education (CJE) was formed in response to student repression
and an open forum was planned on April 7th where the CJE approved
three demands: the elimination of tuition fees, student, worker,
faculty parity on university decision-making bodies, and an end to the
repression of dissent on campus. Two demonstrations took place outside
Simcoe Hall on March 25 and April 10 to protest for the three demands.
Following the arrests in April, CJE mobilized supporters and
organized an emergency meeting that was attended by over 120
supporters at Steelworkers Hall.   On May 21, students made their
presence felt once more at Simcoe Hall, where a meeting of the
University Affairs Board was finalizing the details of tuition hikes.
On June 3rd a rally was held in support of the 14 and to demand that
all charges be dropped and over 300 supporters marched from Simcoe
Hall to Old City Hall courthouse for the first of many court dates.

The successful legal defense campaign thus far comes at a time when we
see the university falling further out of reach for the vast majority
of students, especially those from racialized and other marginalized
communities. In the face of chronic government under-funding, students
have been burdened with skyrocketing tuition fees and debt loads.
Rather than pressure the provincial and federal governments to
increase funding for accessible, high quality public education, the
UofT administration is lobbying for full deregulation of fees and has
embraced a corporate model of education that caters to private
interests.

The CJE would like to thank the many supporters who came out to
meetings, demonstrations, and court dates in support of the FF14. The
political pressure that was placed on the university had significant
effects on the development of the case, and has ultimately played a
large part in the revocation of charges. With your continued support,
we are hopeful that full exoneration will be achieved for all of the
FF14 and that we can continue in our fight for accessible education.
Please continue to sign the petition and send letters of support
condemning the actions of the University of Toronto and calling for a
public statement that all criminal charges and Code of Conduct
Investigations are to be dropped.

For further information: Gabi Rodriguez 416-529-8755
gabriela.rodriguez.tyc@gmail.com (Committee for Just Education)