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John Clarke (activist)

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Clarke in 2013

John Clarke is an anti-poverty activist who lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. As of 2019, he was teaching at York University.

Activism

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A native of Britain, he moved to Toronto, Ontario and became an organizer there.[1] He was a leading figure of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) group until he retired from it in January 2019.[2] The Globe and Mail reported in the year 2000 that Clarke's "guerrilla activism has pitted him against police countless times during the past decade."[3]

Clarke was arrested with three other activists and charged with inciting a riot for his role in an OCAP protest at Queen's park in June 2000. Clarke appealed his restrictive bail conditions in August 2000.[3] In 2003, a judge stayed the charges and Clarke walked free.[4]

The Sudbury Star described Clarke in 2016 as "a 25-year veteran of activism."[1] In 2019, he announced an online fundraiser asking people to contribute $25,000 for his retirement.[5]

Teaching

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In 2019, Clarke took on the post of Packer Visitor in Social Justice in the faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies at York University. The position is for two years.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Keenan Kusan, Workers being held down, activist says in Sudbury, Sudbury Star (March 26, 2016).
  2. ^ a b Levy, Sue-Ann (26 November 2019). "Poverty warrior teaching Activism 101 at York University". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  3. ^ a b Margaret Philp, Activist to fight bail terms, Globe & Mail (August 10, 2000).
  4. ^ Clarke, John (28 October 2003). "RIOT CHARGES AGAINST OCAP ORGANIZER STAYED BY TRIAL JUDGE - Statement by John Clarke, OCAP Organizer". OCAP. Archived from the original on 1 June 2005. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  5. ^ Levy, Sue-Ann (28 January 2019). "Poverty activist John Clarke wants help funding retirement". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
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