Achi news desk-
A Calgary criminal defense lawyer has launched a clothing campaign to raise awareness about the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Founder Kaysi Fagan says the aim of 10(b) Collective is to stimulate conversation about the Charter, and empower people to know their rights and reduce the likelihood of injustice.
“We, the innocent and the guilty, are vulnerable when we come into contact with the police,” Fagan said. “Understanding our rights is the great leveler and the first line of defense against the abuse of police power.”
“Most Canadians do not understand the importance of the Charter, or how these rights protect us.”
Fagan says the recently launched collection is rooted in her experience on the front lines of litigation, with more than 13 years of experience as a lawyer, Senior Professor of Criminal Law at the University of Calgary and a member of the Alberta Law Society.
The 10(b) logo symbolizes Section 10(b) of the Charter, which guarantees the right to counsel.
According to Fagan, almost a third of wrongful convictions are caused by false confessions, which she says happen when people don’t know their 10(b) rights.
“The goal of the 10(b) Collective is to ‘arm up’ Canadians and get people talking about our rights and freedoms,” he said.
A portion of the proceeds from the clothing collection will go to non-profit organizations that support the expansion of civil liberties, and the release of wrongfully convicted people in Canada, including The Innocence Project.
