MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
May 27, 2010

‘Shout Out’ public forum awaits police approval

Toronto - The Council of Canadians hopes that it has found a new home for its ‘Shout Out for Global Justice’ public forum on Friday June 25 at Massey Hall.

After the University of Toronto decided last week to shut down its St. George campus, including Convocation Hall, the Council was forced to find a new location for this high-profile event.

The forum will feature Council of Canadians chairperson Maude Barlow, Bolivian ambassador Pablo Solon, writer Naomi Klein, union leader Leo Gerard, physicist Vandana Shiva, Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman, War on Want executive director John Hilary, Indigenous activist Clayton Thomas-Muller and many others.

Only one thing remains – police ‘approval’.

Staff at Massey Hall arranging the event bookings confirmed yesterday that Massey Hall is available, but that they would need to inform the police and get their approval. The Council of Canadians is expecting an update this afternoon following a meeting of Massey Hall officials with the Integrated Security Unit (ISU).

“We find this unsettling,” says Barlow. “Permission to hold a public forum should not be a decision made by police.”

If permission is given, the Council of Canadians is calling on the City of Toronto to ensure that people from across the city will have access to this venue steps from the billion dollar security perimeter established for the summit.

“We will be talking with Mayor David Miller to make sure that Torontonians have the freedom to hear alternate views from around the world during the summit weekend,” adds Barlow. “That means the subways and street cars need to be running, and the streets open for people to move across the city.”

“We were well on our way to filling the 1,700 seats at Convocation Hall,” adds Barlow. “We are now redoubling our efforts and will fill the nearly 3,000 seats at Massey Hall.”

For more information on the ‘Shout Out’ event, go to www.canadians.org/g20.

-30-

Contacts:

Dylan Penner, Council of Canadians, Media Officer, (613) 795-8685; .