On May 4, 2022 the Hon. Judge Perry Borden rendered a decision for my client in the Nova Scotia Provincial Court. He was arrested for breaching probation and an undertaking, both for contravening a “no contact” condition. How the police made the stop, just assuming he was “the Black person” they were looking for based on very little information — which could have resulted in any Black person being stopped — was the problem, leading to a finding of Charter […]
Author Archive: Arashid
Trials to be set for August 18 homeless encampments eviction arrestees amid concerns about the justice system
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 21, 2022 Each and every person across Turtle Island, regardless of circumstance, deserves safety, dignity, and respect, none of which were shown by HRM or their police on August 18, 2021 during the violent eviction of encampments and unlawful arrests of those expressing opposition to the eviction. “No one should face prosecutions and the risk of convictions for criminal offences that are based on unlawful state and police actions,” said Asaf Rashid, lawyer representing 8 individuals […]
The Parole Board of Canada’s attempt at addressing racism is perpetuating systemic racism
Last week, I got an email on a listserv for the Canadian Prison Lawyers Association, a reminder about a survey, where the Parole Board of Canada (PBC) was asking for participation in a questionnaire about diversity and systemic racism. Their description: “This engagement seeks to understand how the criminal justice system, specifically in the area of conditional release, can be more responsive to the needs of Indigenous, Black, and other Racialized offenders with the goal of improving their experiences and […]
Halifax violated the right to housing through their secrecy about August 18 eviction
Halifax chose to keep housing service providers and supporters in the dark about their planned eviction of homeless encampments, creating a false dichotomy of security versus ensuring housing needs were met. By doing this, they clearly violated the right to adequate housing as it relates to homeless encampments in Canada, as covered in the National Protocol on Homeless Encampments in Canada. I will elaborate on this below. News this past week revealed that the office of Halifax’s Chief Administrative Officer, […]
Demand a full & independent investigation into Halifax Police actions on August 18th, 2021
Petition · Demand a full & independent investigation into Halifax Police actions on August 18th, 2021 · Change.org Here’s the full petition (go to the link above to support): The actions of the Halifax Regional Police in the mass evictions that occurred on August 18, 2021 reflect longstanding and systemic issues with policing in HRM, including the Municipality’s reliance on police to address complex social needs; excessive force by police; and the militarization of the police. Some of the policing […]
The loss of Robert Devet is a deep loss for those fighting for progressive social change in Nova Scotia
I learned of the recent, and sudden passing of Robert Devet last night. I only spoke to him on a few occasions, including interviews, but I heard about his work for years. Robert was a tireless fighter for social change. He was the founder of the Nova Scotia Advocate, which is media through which, in the words of Robert, “we write about poverty, housing and gentrification, workers and bosses, City Hall, the environment, racism, homophobia and misogyny, refugees, people living […]
Open letter to Mayor Savage and HRM Councillors against evictions of encampments -September 2, 2020
From: Wayne MacKay, Vince Calderhead, Claire McNeil, Katrin MacPhee, Mark Culligan, Mitch Broughton, Andrea MacNevin, Asaf Rashid Human rights lawyers and advocates, Halifax, Nova Scotia We are writing this open letter in the wake of the City’s forced eviction and clearance of the encampments of a large number of people who are homeless and, more recently, the Halifax City Council’s decision to suspend the police response to the lack of affordable housing in this City. At the same time, the […]
Silencing Palestinian solidarity – there was no lawful authority for this
On Saturday, May 15, a Free Palestine caravan rally (people in their cars) was held in the south end of k’jipuktuk /Halifax to support Palestinian people in their struggle against the violence they are facing by the state of Israel. Meanwhile, on the Citadel Hill park in Halifax and other parts of Nova Scotia, there was another group, Freedom Nova Scotia (FNS), who were gathering to oppose public health restrictions and vaccinations, All told, there were 17 tickets issued to […]
Eviction moratorium must be put in place due to Nova Scotia lockdown
Dear Hon Iain Rankin, As the lockdown comes into place, it is essential that everyone has a place to stay. This necessitates another moratorium on evictions. It is unsafe and against the interests of protecting public health to have anyone be rendered homeless during the heightened state of emergency as of the most recent public health order: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/docs/health-protection-act-order-by-the-medical-officer-of-health.pdf. Furthermore, failure to put in place a moratorium against evictions at this time should be seen as a violation of […]
Proposed new removal “fees” are really fines and is deportation now punishment?
On January 5, 2021, the Canada border Services Agency publicized that they would be drastically increasing the so-called fees charged to those deported from the country. Anyone deported would owe $3,250, regardless of how far they are actually travelling. Those who were escorted out of the country would be charged a blink-worthy $10,900. Those who were detained in immigration detention would be charged $1,300. Currently, Canada charges $750 for those deported to the United States and St. Pierre and Miquelon […]