Friends of the Woodwards Squat

This is a newsletter of the Anti-Poverty Committee, an anti-capitalist and anti-oppression organization fighting for the rights of poor and working people in Vancouver, BC. This issue includes the articles: ""Defeat this Government!"" (on the need to organize a fight against the BC Liberals' cuts among the poor and working class), ""St. James and Direct Action Casework"" (on successfully advocating for a welfare recipient), ""The BC Liberals attack on workers"" (on policy changes that will negatively affect the most vulnerable of workers and the need for mass mobilization), and ""Can't see the movement for the tactics: May Day 2002 and APC"" (clarifying the use of tactics during a demonstration against the training wage). It also lists upcoming events, states its basis of unity, and describes ways to get involved through meetings and the training wage campaign.

This is a newsletter (vol. 1, no. 3) of the Collective Opposed to Police Brutality - Vancouver that provides information, analysis, and critique of police actions locally, nationally, and internationally. It features the articles: 'Our Take' on the Woodward's squat and the responses by the Vancouver Police Department (VPD), the policies of the BC Liberals, and other squats in Canada (Toronto, Quebec City); 'Special Reports - Police Riot in East Vancouver' (reprinted from Indy Media - Vancouver) on the police violence against demonstrators awaiting Gordon Campbell at the Eastside Family Place. The Local News section, includes the articles: 'VANDU Gets a Human Rights Award,' 'Law Allowing Cop Searches Struck Down,' 'VDP Chief Jamie Says No to Legal Pot,' 'Kimberly Rogers Womyn's Bridage Member ????Such??? Victoria KKKops,' 'Police Steal Homeless People's Possessions,' 'Search Warrants Aren't a Licence to Abuse Inhabitants,' 'Night Cook Viciously Beaten by VPD KKKops,' 'Family of Missing Women Sue Police,' 'Drug Cop Says We Need Detox not Arrests,' 'Gay/Transgender Bashing Allowed by Police Indifference,' 'Police Terrorize East Vancouver Family,' 'Barbaresh Win Round 1 of Court Battle with U$A,' 'BC Police Complaints Commissioner Kills Probe,' 'RCMP Don't Give a Shit about Lesbian Campers Being Terrorized,' and 'Gastown Business Improvement Association (BIA), A Report from Our Inside Mole.' The National News section includes articles: 'Riot Police Attach Pro-Palestinian Demonstrators at Concordia University' and 'Homeless Killed by Cops' (in Montreal). Lastly, the International News section includes articles: 'Silence Dissent by Any Drug Necessary' (USA), 'Felony Assault on Animals' (PA, USA), 'Pigs Protect Pigs' (MA, USA), 'Impunity Again and Again' (WA, USA), 'Commemorating September 11?' (Chile), 'Cops' Assault on Anarchist' (Belarus), 'Killed for Heating and Water' (Azerbaijan), 'Police=Mental Virus' (France), ''No Border': Repression Goes On' (France), 'Police=Terrorist' (Spain), 'Celebrating 48 Dead Cops' (Nepal), ''We Don't Need Police Approval'' (Hong Kong), and 'Spies Don't Pay' (South Korea). Also included are two fliers, one for a demonstration at the upcoming VPD Broad Meeting and a 'Profile' on VPD and Mayday 2001 activists, along with ads for upcoming meetings and actions, including those of Vancouver Cop Watch. Throughout, the group advocates anti-oppression, anti-capitalism, and the democratic control of policing by communities.

This is a press advisory of a community meeting that will release the results of a survey of Downtown Eastside residents on the uses of the Woodwards building to be used in the City of Vancouver visioning process. In particular, more social housing is called for, as well as the attendance of provincial Minister George Abbott, responsible for the Olympics and housing, at the meetings.

This is a notice of an upcoming solidarity action with the Woodward's squatters by postsecondary students. It asks students to volunteer over the night at the squat to relieve those who are there around the clock fighting for low-cost social housing. It suggests that other organizations replicate these means of support.