Solidarity donation campaign for No Borders stencil arrest and ticket
Please contribute $20, $50 or more towards legal costs involving a Montreal graffiti ticket during “Anti-Deportations Days”
Friends and allies —
Street art, stencils, and graffiti are an important part of our social justice campaigns and actions. Being able to get out our message to people directly, on the streets, is an effective communications tactic. But, there are all sorts of laws against graffiti. And sometimes, unfortunately, we get caught.
In May 2014, as part of the lead-up to “Anti-Deportation Days” organized by Solidarity Across Borders, a team of migrant justice organizers affiliated with No One Is Illegal-Montreal stenciled anti-borders messages throughout the city.
Two of our friends — Xindi and Vince — created a beautiful original stencil with the message “No Borders”. The stencil image is linked HERE.
Xindi and Vince were arrested, handcuffed, and ticketed for the stencil. There were three people who were stopped, but the Montreal police only arrested the two people of colour in the group.
The municipal government of Plateau-Mt-Royal demands exorbitant fines for graffiti relative to the rest of the City. Xindi and Vince — who continue to be active as artists and organizers for migrant justice and against gentrification — need to pay upwards of $2000 for the ticket and legal costs. They are both low-to-modest income earners, and need our solidarity to pay the expenses.
If 40 friends donate $20 each, we can pay all expenses. Feel free to donate more or less!
For every donation of $20 or more, you’ll receive an original poster designed by Vince; the poster image is linked HERE.
Please share this callout with anyone you think might be able to contribute.
Here’s how you can make your donation:
→ You can donate ONLINE via the Solidarity Across Borders paypal OR via e-transfer. The paypal link is on the Solidarity Across Borders website (on the right side): www.solidarityacrossborders.org … For e-transfer, email the donation to us at solidaritésansfrontieres@gmail.com … In either case, be sure to indicate “No Borders stencil ticket” on your donation.
→ You can donate by CHEQUE. Make the cheque out to “Solidarité sans frontières” and be sure to put “No Borders stencil ticket” in the memo line. You can mail your cheque to:
“No Borders stencil ticket”
c/o Solidarity Across Borders
1500 de Maisonneuve West, #204
Montreal (QC) H3G 1N1
→ You can donate in CASH; you can come by QPIRG Concordia in Montreal at 1500 de Maisonneuve West, #204, during office hours (Monday-Thursday, 12-6pm) and leave a donation with the staff. If you know them, you can also provide cash directly to Vince or Xindi.
Thanks for considering this request!