John Clarke (activist)

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

Clarke in 2013

Activism

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

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
  1. Keenan Kusan, Workers being held down, activist says in Sudbury, Sudbury Star (March 26, 2016).
  2. Levy, Sue-Ann (26 November 2019). "Poverty warrior teaching Activism 101 at York University". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  3. 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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