FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 16, 2000
OPSEU member denied
bail because of her Country of Origin
TORONTO – The Ontario Public Service Employees Union has called
for a bail review hearing and the immediate release from jail of
Magaly San Martin, president of OPSEU Local 525, after she was denied
bail this morning.
San Martin, a community legal worker at Parkdale Community Legal
Services, was arrested yesterday after an anti-poverty demonstration
at Queen’s Park. Witnesses said she had done nothing to warrant
being arrested.
San Martin, who is also a Ph.D. student at the University of
Toronto, has never been arrested before.
When Justice of the Peace Lewin denied San Martin bail this
morning, he made some comments about her Chilean background and what
is acceptable in "her country" and not in Canada. San Martin
has lived in Canada for decades.
OPSEU is asking concerned citizens to call Jim Flaherty, the
Attorney General of Ontario (416) 326-4000 and Paul Culver, the Head
Crown Attorney (416) 327-5990 to demand San Martin’s release.
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