We’ll be updating this post as new information trickles in:
Oct 4, 7:40 am Setu Sharma posted: “Did anyone notice this history in peaceful protest/civil disobedience happened on October 2nd? Birthday of Mahatma Gandhi who started this peaceful and very powerful method of protest against oppressive powers?” (from FB)
Michael Schmidt has spoken in the past about how Gandi’s model has been an inspiration for his work.
92.3 The Dock – Standoff at Schmidt Farm Ends Peacefully
National Post – Story from Friday Oct 2
4:52 am Saturday Oct 3 — Marianne Else posted this video:
8:58 pm Oct 2 – David Gumpert’s reading of what went down and why and what it all means, from his “The Complete Patient” blog:
“For the first time since the latest raw milk wars began in 2006, people had stood up to the enforcers and physically blocked them from stealing their food. In Canada, of all places, where everyone is always nice and polite….except when they aren’t.
According to a Canadian news report, authorities did make off with one or two of Schmidt’s computers, before sympathizers blocked the driveway.
While this little drama was unfolding, there was more good news for Schmidt: enough money poured into his crowdfunding campaign for his legal defense in the sheep-napping case to prompt author and naturopathic physician Ron Schmid to match the contributions, and put the campaign over its $50,000 goal; Ron Schmid wound up donating half the total. By this evening, contributions were still coming in, and will be accepted, until the campaign ends tomorrow.
While the media report on the cases against Schmidt—the raw milk and sheep-napping cases—as if they are discrete events, the reality is that Canadian bureaucrats are throwing pretty much everything they have at the activist farmer, nearly without regard to which case is involved. When I spoke with Schmidt on Wednesday, he agreed. “I take that as a good sign,” he said. “It means we are heading in the right direction.””
6:00 pm – Margo Mackintosh posted:
“Police left Michaels farm after the crowd there refused to let them leave with confiscated milk products and pieces of equipmemt. The did take out a cooler with some milk samples in it earlier but they had a huge cube truck and wanted to leave with a bunch more. A tractor was parked at the end of the driveway and all there (including children) refused to move off the driveway to let them through until they emptied the truck. We were threatened with arrest and criminal charges. Nobody left.
I counted 11 police officers but there were more that seemed to come and go. Now think about this…..our Ontario tax $ paid for this and for the long trial resulting at the Supreme Court. Someone today told me that legal trail to the Supreme Court of Ontario cost us taxpayers a million dollars. Really? I can think of lots more places for our tax money to go than down the drain trying to prosecute one farmer for providing healthy food to knowledgeable and willing farm share owners.
The whole thing is ridiculous!”
5:15 pm – Michael Schmidt posted:
“Farm share members are happy. Many pick up their milk. People power.”
Happy people picking up their milk — Michael Schmidt photo
People getting their milk
.
4:30 pm – Liz Reitzig posted:
“Update: Michael just texted that the equipment and products the agents confiscated were just unloaded from the trucks. The people have their products back! And no arrests so far. Super news!”
3:40 pm – Michael Schmidt posted on FB:
“We won. They are leaving and all the confiscated stuff stays.”
Folks standing on guard for their milk. With farmer Michael Schmidt
The confiscated stuff stays on the farm — Michael Schmidt photo
2:53 pm – Michael Schmidt posted on FB:
“Stand off. Nothing leaves the farm until we get the assurance that premier Wynn respects the right of people to drink their own milk”
Citizens and police at the farm gate — Michael Schmidt photo
End of the road — Michael Schmidt photo
Michael Schmidt photo
Standoff — Michael Schmidt photo
Cars all up and down the road — Michael Schmidt photo
Uninvited visitors — Michael Schmidt photo
End of the driveway — Michael Schmidt photo
2:20 pm – Karen Selick posted just now that:
“Michael says as many as 50 people might be arrested today. There are about 20 bureaucrats from different departments swarming the farm, protected by 5 or 6 police officers.”
Photo from Oct. 2nd raid at Glencolton Farms
Michael Schmidt is asking for people to come to witness what is taking place, and to bring their video camera if they have one, to document what is happening.
Photo from Oct. 2nd raid at Glencolton Farms
American raw milk activist Liz Reitzig posted the following on Facebook today at about 11:45 am:
“URGENT: Michael Schmidt is getting raided right now! Agents are on the farm right now. Michael is requesting anyone who can please come to the farm immediately with video recording equipment. 393889 Concession 2 West Gray Durham, Ontario CA Please share. Very urgent!”
Photo from Oct. 2 raid on Glencolton Farms
Just last week there was a raid in Thornhill at the Glencolton Farms distribution point. Samples of all of the available dairy products were taken. More details about that, in this story.
Montana Jones posted the following on Facebook, along with the three photos above:
“URGENT! Anybody living near Durham drop what you are doing and go to Michael Schmidt farm. Another RAID is in progress and he needs more people to show support, to videotape proceedings etc. Michael offers a cowshare for members of a co-op farm and the authorities are seizing THEIR dairy products, records, etc! Government typically raids on Fridays because it’s less likely to get into the news, and fewer people are on social media then—so get over there to stand beside him! It is 5 hours away for me and I am not allowed to see him except in lawyers presence due to our bail conditions. MAKE THIS NEWS and share!”
Liz Reitzig reports:
“These are the agencies conducting the raid on his farm today: Ministry of Natural Resources Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Police departments, Regulatory Compliance Unit of Ontario, Ministry of Finance, Dairy Inspection branch working for the dairy farmers of Ontario.”
This is looking like a large-scale coordinated effort, probably something that has been in the works for some time.
And in answer to someone’s question, Liz wrote:
“Michael Schmidt has a farm where multiple people own the farm and he milks the cows that provide the owners with fresh milk. He is being raided because, in Canada, raw milk is completely illegal and the “authorities” will stop at nothing to keep raw milk away from people who want it.”
Karen Selick posted at about 12:30 pm:
“Another raid is happening on the farm operated by Michael Schmidt for the Glencolton Farmshare. It’s another raw milk raid designed to deprive farmshare owners of the food they have voluntarily chosen to consume. There is scientific evidence that the consumption of raw milk by children reduces significantly their risk of asthma and allergies. Who are these bureaucrats to make cost-benefit analyses for parents who don’t want them to?”
There is a folk tale about an inventor in ancient China who made and flew an airplane. The emperor had the airplane destroyed and the inventor put to death. They weren’t ready for something like that which could upset the established order of things.
That’s a bit like what Glencolton Farms represents in our time. It’s like something from the future — the future of agriculture, the future of ways for people to work together, and the future of disease prevention.
Do those who are heavily invested in the status quo feel threatened?
The Bovine 
The people being terrorized by the authorities have much more patience with tyranny than I would. Perhaps the good of this display will be exposing the criminals for who they really are. Just a gang of thugs with a flag on the wall.
Any body that is sick of governments trying to run / ruin our lives should take note and learn about several things. (1) Common Law https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQKn_xw1n28 and (2) CACL http://www.canadiananticorruptionleague.org. We can put an end to this Government Criminal Corrupt activity and one thing is been proven up to date is our efforts have been in vain. We need dialogue and new tactics.
WE WORKED the SYSTEM here in ARKANSAS , USA and finally got RAW MILK BILL PASSED , you are fighting the DAIRY INDUSTRY MACHINE it is all about MONEY follow the MONEY and GET ALL GRASSROOTS on your SIDE , it is about CHOICE and FREEDOM ! BEST WISHES , !
Who asked for their concern?
Why not WAIT until someone actually does get sick and you have some
proof. This is harassment. Intimidate by fear! What on earth is Ministry of Natural Resource have to do with animals or milk?
Where are the Toronto people? It is really up to them to protest if its their milk or choice?.
Why is M Schmidt taking this risk of breaking the law for these people?.
What police are representing M Schmidt for his protection?
I too take offence to the audacity of elected servants giving themselves permission and rights to enter PRIVATE PROPERTY or dictate what we can eat when and where. Bottom line is the “law” is being broken. Anyone can get their own animal and drink raw milk in their own place. Is it really worth this aggravation?
One needs to find out where they live, where their kids go to school, take photos, follow them…what’s good for the goose is good for the gander? No one is safe now we have no privacy law.
I think anyone concerned needs to send in their own letters. The more that is documented and complain maybe it is an issue. We are in an election and I have yet to hear of anyone’s concern regarding hydro, milk, our rights, vaccination etc. etc.
If it is private property get your sign out and a gate!
M Schmidt is fighting Torontonians battles. They need to get property, an animal milk it and drink it. No one will care if you get sick die or get healthy
Problem is we know it’s the greedy dairy farmers that produce sick milk from sick animals that need protection and yes they are terrified. Unfortunately the masses wouldn’t know the difference in quality raw vs pasteurized etc., or even care. They believe a woman who doesn’t seem to know what female breasts are for or the order of all things living that it is RAW milk that immunizes offspring and grows them not kill or make sick. If she ever got out in a field and observed nature in its finest she’d see little lambs, kids, calves grabbing a teat and having some real food. No stopping, worrying or asking mom to clean up or teat dip, etc. Who are the real dummies?
We still have the freedom to choose and their choice.is to buy into the pasteurization scare. If they only knew the reason they are sick is because the milk, cheese and dairy they consume is full of toxins and not even a real food. Natural order from beginning of time, animals living co-existing in small herds all healthy, able to breed ,birth without control, vaccination and man deciding on what food they should eat. Humans have lost their innate intelligence so are like a herd of animals needing direction. Not many have a simple thing called COMMON SENSE. Certainly not anyone who dictates a human gets immunity from a needle!
I called both Bruce Walkers and Randy Pettipiece office and sent Wynne an email regarding this raid. This has to stop.However, most of us thinking people know why this is happening again. Just could it be because of what is coming to light in the sheep issue??? As I said before the police are not here to protect us they are here to serve Corporations and the Government. As was witnessed today , the police (5 or6)were there not to protect Michael and the farm share people’s rights but the government.
Way to use civil disobedience for your God given natural rights!! You guys are awesome!! Back and support your right to healthy food all the way!
Raw Milk by Royce Hamer
Never in my 70+ years have I been as PROUD of FELLOW Canadian Civilians as I was on Friday Oct 2,2015 when 50 or so Canadians from Central Ontario stood up to the Corruption of the Government of Ontario when they ordered the police and about 4 government agencies TO pull off another illegal and corrupt raid on the farm of Michael Schmidt for the second time in several years. Why did this Ontario Government perform in such a disgusting manner? Well it appears that Michael Schmidt was providing a quality food that is in demand by many but banned by a malignant and corrupt government that only takes its orders from the giant food processors.
This action taken by these quality citizens of Ontario to get in the face of Provincial Bullies is indeed a remarkable event that in the future may well echo the words of Sir Winston Churchill spoken in 1940 (Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few,) As a man or woman born free to be subjugated by their government to this ridiculous degree in the topic of food choice is indeed the pinnacle of corruption. What does the Government of Ontario have planned for us in their next malicious activity?
Who is Royce Hamer you ask? I was born and raised on the farm in Old Whitby Township and raw milk was our choice and consumed in quantity, Growing up I watched and participated as permitted in many social causes that my parents as farmers helped to build into groups that would protect farmers from the predatory practices of food processors. My parents supported and campaigned for the OFA, Hog Marketing Board and even started a Credit Union in their living room about 1954. My work life started as a Police Officer starting in Toronto as a cadet then graduating and later moving to a small town police force. I observed numerous acts of corruption and when presented same to the Chief in a confidential manner I was fired, the town police commission reinstated me and over the next few years I objected to more acts of corruption and was fired several more times only to be reinstated by higher authority that seemed to know that I was different.
Eventually the Ontario Police Commission had sufficient evidence and performed an investigation resulting in about 25% of the force being relieved of duties. Several others were seriously reprimanded however after 4 years of stress I chose to leave several months after the new chief was installed. Subsequently I was quite political and even was local president of a political party and was on management team on 3 elections that were won by our party. I learned a lot and left the party when it was apparent that Ottawa did not listen to the grass roots.
I now have formed the CACL Canadian Anti Corruption League.. http://www.canadiananticorruptionleague.org. which we intend to turn into a political party with a full platform of programs that will benefit the people and highlight the reduction if not the elimination of Government Corruption. (read our web site) Presently I am organizing a citizen owned Organic Farm to establish a clean and continuous food supply for our owners and members. (www.organicfarmcoop.org)
Again to those that attended the Schmidt Farm and stood your ground in the face of arrest and harassment by our elected government I salute you and will cherish this memory. I only wish I was able to attend also but distance was an issue also I found out a bit late.
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Reblogged this on NonConFormizt and commented:
We believe we live in a free country until we run into the insidious wall. We should have the right to eat and drink what we ourselves believe to be healthy for ourselves and our families.
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