A Toronto anti-Israel activist turned herself in to Ontario law enforcement on Friday after compatriots were arrested in a raid five days prior in relation to blockading and property damage at an October defense exposition.
The 43-year-old Diana Thorpe is scheduled to appear before a London court on January 8 to face two counts of mischief over $5000 and a count of disguise with intent, London Police said in a Monday press statement.
Police are looking for another man in relation to the October 21 protest of the Best Defense Conference, which activist groups World Beyond War, Jews Say No to Genocide, Palestine Solidarity Network, and Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ), Toronto, had blockaded to demand an arms embargo against Israel and an end to the defense industry.
A warrant had been issued for Thorpe last Tuesday in concert with a raid on four residences in London, Hamilton, Marmora, and Owen Sound, police said on Wednesday. Three people were arrested and charged, and a number of items were confiscated, including plans on how to cause property damage during the protest, documents on police crowd control tactics, smoke bombs, and communications devices.
Marmora resident Rachel Small was charged with two counts of mischief over $5000, London resident David Heap was charged with obstruction of a police officer, and Hamilton resident Patricia Mills was charged with obstructing an officer, disguise, and two counts of mischief over $5000.
Palestine Solidarity Network lambasted the police for what it said was an early morning raid meant to "intimidate and disrupt" their movement by targeting prominent "anti-war and Palestine solidarity" activists. Small is a leading activist with World Beyond War, and Heap is a leading member of the Canadian Gaza flotilla delegation, according to a Wednesday Instagram post by the pro-Palestinian group.
The International League of Peoples' Struggle Canada and World Beyond War on Saturday called for charges against the activists, an end in Canadian involvement in the defense industry, and an end to "state repression of peace and human rights organizers."
"Over the past two years, we have witnessed an alarming rise in surveillance, harassment, physical aggression, and politically motivated charges against those protesting Canada's complicity in the ongoing genocide in Palestine and other war crimes across the world," said the groups. "The Canadian state would rather spend millions repressing those who oppose genocide than confront the war profiteers it hosts and protects."
Another activist was arrested for assaulting a man who had attempted to remove protest barricades. LaSalle resident Nicholas Amor was charged with assault, conspiracy, mischief over $5000, and disguise for his actions at the protest.
Amor was one of over 100 protesters who gathered outside the defense conference, according to SURJ Toronto, attempting to disrupt it and prevent attendees from entering for hours. World Beyond War said that activists had blocked all the entrances.
$32,000 in total damages
Police said activists had erected barricades using construction materials and thrown paint at expo staff members and police. The damage caused to the expo building was estimated at $32,000, which included damage caused by a masked woman who used a hammer to smash the facility's electronic locks.
The Owen Sound woman attempted to flee into a crowd of protesters when police approached, and resisted when informed that she was under arrest. 34-year-old Pamela Reano was charged with mischief over $5000, conspiracy, resisting arrest, and disguise.
World Beyond War called on supporters to donate to Reano's legal support after her arrest. Reano was described by Palestine Solidarity Network as a "queer brain-injured community organizer."
Activists noted that Israeli defense firm Elbit Systems had been a sponsor of the defense conference.