KITCHENER — Never lie to the police. You have the right to stay silent. If you are arrested, provide your name and address.

These were some of the tips Kitchener lawyer and social activist Davin Charney told a group of about 14 activists in the Kitchener-Waterloo area preparing to head to the G20 summit June 26-27 in Toronto, where world leaders will gather to discuss key issues in the global economy. The activists gathered at the University of Waterloo Saturday for a day of workshops, organized by the Kitchener-Waterloo People’s Summit, for the G20 resistance.

Charney said he wanted people to understand the consequences of confronting police. He offered his expertise as a lawyer and as an activist, who has been arrested at least 15 times but never criminally convicted. Charney now defends other activists who get in trouble, along with accused criminals he sees as victims of circumstances in an unjust society.

As activists prepare to head to Toronto for the protest, Charney said they shouldn’t be afraid of dealing with police.

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