Warren George, age 24, was nervous. He had been convicted of
criminal negligence and assault with a weapon, his car, after
driving into police lines during a confrontation at Ipperwash
Provincial Park on Sept. 6, 1995. Today April 3, 1998 he was to be
sentenced. CPT members joined other supporters to be present in
Sarnia, Ontario as the time of sentencing drew near.

He and other aboriginal persons had entered the park to protect a
sacred burial ground. In the ensuing clash with police, Band
Councillor Bernard George was severely beaten and Warren tried to
rescue him. The conflict escalated and police shot and killed
Warren's cousin Dudley George. The officer involved, Sgt. Kenneth
Deane was tried and convicted of criminal negligence causing death.
He was sentenced to 180 hours of community service. Several charges
laid against aboriginal persons were dismissed, all except those
against Warren.

There was anxiety and anger as a large crowd gathered outside the
courtroom in Sarnia, Ontario. The lawyers presented submissions
comparing possible sentences to the relatively light sentence of
"community service" received by Sgt. Deane for killing Dudley
George. The judge withdrew to consider the sentence. The tension
mounted.

Then Warren's family sent a message from the courtroom asking if
the people outside the court would pray. Two circles immediately
formed, one in the waiting room outside the doors of the court, and
another on the sidewalk outside the building. Everyone joined hands
and prayed silently for 20 minutes. Aboriginal men in combat boots
and army fatigues, Christian Peacemaker Team members, young people
with dyed hair and body piercings, family members. It was a holy
moment of unity and mutual support.

The judge returned. He noted that Warren had a clean record, was
not a danger to the public, and was extremely unlikely ever to do
such a thing again. But he had to "send a message to the community"
and so the sentence: 6 months incarceration, 2 year suspension of
driving privileges, 10 year ban on owning firearms.

What message?