Deana Sherif has been called a lot of things. A perpetual protestor, an Antifa ringleader, a criminal…but she’s also been described as a fierce advocate for her community, a tireless activist, and a protective presence to those around her.

All of these things made her a target of the Police, the Crown and the right-wing propagandists who serve them.

The legal saga that is Deana’s story starts off at a routine action for Palestine, and ends with a criminal conviction for making noise and just over 17 months time-served for a single mother of two with no prior criminal record.

As Deana describes her initial arrest, the bogus charges, and the unconstitutional bail conditions she faced for using a Fox40 electronic whistle, it is clear the system is looking to make an example of her.

Then comes the squeak-toy incident. You have to hear it to believe it, but Police are able to weaponize ridiculous bail conditions to again lock up an activist exercising their Charter Rights - for over 300 days.

Both Deana and host Jessa McLean make the case that cases like this are part of a larger effort to silence the loudest amongst, and incapacitate social movements. But it isn’t working.

Deana was able to realize community in jail, learn more about the legal system being used against her, and steel her resolve even more so - despite still not being on the other side of this ordeal yet.

Folks are still trying to get her arrested, and there are appeals pending that could impact all of us. See the Call to Action below to donate to Deana’s legal defence, and be sure to share her story with anyone disrupting the status quo.

Song Credit (Opening): The Whole Damn System, by Deana Sherif

Song Credit (Closing): This is Your Genocide, by Deana Sherif

Produced by: Santiago Helou Quintero

Call to Action: Email Money Transfer to [email protected]

Related Episodes:

• Process as Punishment (Feb 2025) Movement lawyers, Nora Fathalipour and Arash Ghiassi, discuss the processes police and the Crown are employing to intimidate, silence, and criminalize movements.
• Support Systems Amid State Suppression (Oct 2024) Dalia Awwad and Rachelle Friesen, members of the Toronto Legal Support Committee, discuss oppressive tactics being used by Police and their impact on individuals and the larger movement.

More Resources:

• VIDEO: April 15th Protest
• The Breach: Secretive committee in Ontario ministry pushed crackdown on pro-Palestine activism
• CentreTown Buzz: Assault by Noise Alone
• CBC: Ottawa Protestor who Used Squeaky Toy Found Guilty

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