How would you feel if you were arrested on fake charges, and when you show up in court to defend yourself, you find the state pretending that you were never charged? This happened in Canada over the last month. Most Canadians couldn’t imagine this sort of state corruption happening here, and now it is. It’s happened to your countryman, David Vasey.
Remember those mocked Liberal ads from the Paul Martin campaign?
The imagination of a 4 year old attack ad has an air of validity now, thanks to the overbearing abuses by politicians and police at the G20.
The police had no authority to arrest people within “5 meters” of the “public work” zone, yet Toronto’s chief of police directed his force to do so, then later denied making those orders which he was quoted in the paper as making. He needs to be fired, and possibly jailed over this corruption. Canadians’ rights are not something to be suspended for a week, or even a minute, and police abuse of authority must be punished.
Saskboy's Abandoned Stuff 
Yes, but many on the left have been warning for generations that we are always moments away from a police-state, warnings that are largely laughed at by Liberals and Conservatives alike. A couple of years ago when the forces in Burma killed so many Buddhist Monks, I for one said that we are wrongly smug for believing that we are somehow above this kind of political regression. But I think the G20 demonstrate that things can change in a heartbeat and governments who are supposed to stand for human rights and democracy are perfectly willing to use provocateurs and real violence.
In such terribly powerless situations, people either laugh, cry, or deny. There’s no white knight on Canada’s horizon as far as I can see, at least no one with a large enough following to defend against the rising public apathy.
Remember those mocked Liberal ads from the Paul Martin campaign?
We still do. Too bad that policing in Ontario is a provincial perview, otherwise, you might have had something there. No connection to Harper and the Tories? Aw, gee! ;)
And which party is running the provinvial government in Ontario? Who is the permier?
Awwwwwwkard.
It’s a good thing no one tried to throw a pie. The last guy that was falsely accused of throwing one at Chretien is only now getting through the courts. That little bully and his friends in the police sure can hold a grudge.
Michael, I invite you to supplement your view with additional facts
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/small-army-to-protect-toronto-during-g20-summit/article1525511/
The RCMP, soldiers, and spies were present, and are obviously federal jurisdiction. Yes, the province and even municipal governments share blame for this travesty of justice too.
And who picked downtown Toronto instead of a location that *could* be secured for less than $1.1B? Harper. Awwwkwarrrd.
I’m sure Michael’s real point was that the Liberals are equally culpable in this attack on our constitutional liberties, thus neither of the old line parties deserves our support.
I’m sure ;-)
Also your URL didn’t work, you put .con, perhaps a domain name suitable for Harper’s party, but not one that works. (I fixed it in the above comment for you.)
I am law abiding person. moved to Ont from the US. THen the cops got involved. Lied to nth degree Now this. They are the most putrid law enforcment next to the Mexican cops in N America. Read this.
http://the-democratic-reporter.com/Main_Table_of_Contents.htm
OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino encouraged his officers to lay charges against a protester — before there was any evidence the man had committed a crime — during a clash between natives and residents of Caledonia, Ont., in late 2007, according to emails made public this week in a court case.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/02/02/fantino-mchale-opp-caledonia-protest.html#ixzz0vDQ6SjZb
voiceofcanada.wordpress.com/…/12m-lawsuit-opp-dce-thugs-co-operate-in-false-arrest-of-
There is a not so subtle difference between protesting world leaders meeting in Toronto (although what is it about world leaders that is worth protesting?) and screaming in cops faces, breaking windows, stealing stuff, lighting things on fire, running away to taunt, refusing to leave when told to do so, and associating with criminals.
Quit defending the indefensible. Protesters peaceably protesting and this other stuff has a world of separation between it. Those trying to blur these lines are losing perspective on what civil society actually means.
Tomm, I’m not defending the people who smashed and burned. I’m defending the hundreds of people who were arrested illegally. There are numerous stories of it available on YouTube and the Web, you don’t have to look hard to see video of police violations too.
SB,
Those that were arrested were doing one of the things I mentioned.
To pretend otherwise is preposterous.
For example, people being asked to leave a park where black and other clothes are hidden for criminals to change into, cannot refuse to leave. If so, they are putting themselves in a position to be getting up close and personal with the police. When they howl in protest over the subsequent treatment, it rings pretty hollow to me.
This clearly stopped being a family day protest when masked Black Bloc protestors started running through the crowd screaming anarchist slogans, breaking things, and setting things on fire.
At that point, legitimate law abiding protesters pretty much had two options. Disentangle themselves from the thugs and leave, or detain the thugs for the police to arrest.
Hanging out with them, enjoying the chaos, watching the fireworks, and being part of the mob was not a lawful choice.
No sympathy here.
“cannot refuse to leave. ”
The police were “kettling” protesters and bystanders who had nothing to do with the protest, but were simply trying to leave. There are accounts of this on the Web, go open your eyes.
“Hanging out with them, enjoying the chaos, watching the fireworks, and being part of the mob was not a lawful choice.
No sympathy here.”
No knowledge either apparently.
It doesn’t even interest you why a billion dollars of policing backed off from masked vandals torching cars, but charged peaceful protesters singing O Canada in a street? You’re being trained to hate protesters, and the training is working on you.
“We see a group marching AWAY from the fence, away from G20, they get blocked in by police, but are then let go and told to move east — great, towards home! It’s a crowd of maybe 200 people, all kinds. Some flags and signs lead the group. The free speech zone was shut down, so I guess there was nowhere else to go…”
“We join in singing “Give Peace a Chance” — how could you not, it felt so great. Then, riot cops show up on the sides of the street. Uh-oh. They’re blocking it off, time to go.
We head towards them to leave; they say “Get Back”, no problem. We turn to leave the other way, more riot cops “Get Back”. Okay, we ask if we can please leave — no response. They haven’t said anything. There are journalists in here, a couple comes out of The Keg and tries to leave, they are told, “It’s too late.” Too late for what they ask, and are told nothing.”
“People singing a John Lennon song all arrested? Confusing. Upsetting. I want to get out of there with Kate and go home and I can’t. I hate the way this made me feel. I didn’t do anything. Nothing was happening here with these people, whom I was now a part of. Some sat down, many were on dying cell phones trying to call family and friends, some kids trying to call parents and asking to borrow phones, journalists calling their offices for help . . . scary. ”
If you don’t feel sympathy for these people, or shame in your country for allowing this to happen, then you’re missing something. Perhaps you’re just missing information, but perhaps it’s something even more important.
SB,
You said:
“…If you don’t feel sympathy for these people, or shame in your country for allowing this to happen, then you’re missing something. Perhaps you’re just missing information, but perhaps it’s something even more important.”
I read Tommy Tucker’s journal and quite frankly it didn’t move me. He chose to return multiple times to places that he knew were edgy. He ignored warning signs and direct requests from officers. He was a gawker, wanting to be among those that stayed to the end showing solidarity and singing their songs.
I’m sorry he got arrested. I believe his account. However he does not seem to be taking any responsbility for what he did or how he was one of the problems. Does Tommy realize that he is a pawn (useful idiot) of those that really meant violence?
He talks about Grandmothers for Grandmother’s as if they are not being supported by governments’ (Canadian or others) where in fact they have received millions of government dollars to do their good work.
His attitude about the social contract he shares with all of us and our government defenders (i.e. police) is immature and sadly too typical.
Thanks for sending the link. I did enjoy reading it and it also provided more specific info. I only know about Toronto because of what I see on the news.
I’m very disappointed that there are people in Canada who feel it’s arrest-worthy to ‘show solidarity and sing songs’. I thought that’s what we’re fighting the Taliban to stop?
Tommy was not a “useful idiot” for the Black Block, he was an innocent bystander and a willing participant in a peaceful protest which was boxed in and mass-arrested in a highly unconstitutional way (illegally) by Canadian police. The only useful idiots are the Black Block, and those who aren’t among the most wealthy in the country who call the shots, yet support the suppression of the majority anyway.
The police are supposed to protect the innocent from rampaging vandals, and protect the rights of people to protest injustice, not arrest those protesting injustice. That’s why you should be moved by Tommy’s story, and the others like it citing police brutality, illegal uniforms, and verbal abuse, as well as inhumane conditions in the temporary jail, and fake charges that disappear when you show up to court to defend yourself. These sorts of things will not remain exceptional occurrences in Canada if people are as complacent as you’re being.
We probably both know several or many police officers. They are put under tremendous pressure multiple times each year. It affects their view of the average citizen. They do their jobs with incredible restraint. I suggest you are not showing them enough respect. I think we both saw several video clips of people screaming in police officers faces on the G20 Saturday with nary a response by the officers themselves. Are those people “innocent bystanders”?
With regards to Tommy being an “innocent bystander” and being subject to “police brutality”, as I said, he has to mature in his understanding of Canadian citizenship. It comes with responsiblities and not just rights. Until he recognizes mistakes he made in his own actions, I do not think Toronto/Ontario/Canada owes him an apology.
With respect to the police actions and their accountability, my understanding is that the Toronto Chief has been a well respected leader during his tenure. Do you really wish to target his actions?
If so, please give me the characteristics of the man/woman who would be an appropriate replacement. What are you hoping for from your police? If it is what I think, where on this planet have you seen that in action?
From your perspective, someone peacefully protesting is not a good citizen. I think a peaceful protester is a better citizen than anyone who criticizes peaceful protesters, because THEY are actually fulfilling the social contract and are participating in maintaining this democracy. If the right to peaceful protest in Canada is mocked and it becomes ineffective, what is the next alternative for those without an ability to defend their rights? Let’s hope Canada doesn’t go there.
If doctors or nurses, who also have stressful jobs, suddenly started locking away (or even dehumanizing) patients when there were too many to deal with, we’d charge the doctor with a crime. The same goes for police who abuse their job position. Shouting at a line of police officers (who should not be there in the first place to raise tensions) is not a crime in Canada (unless you utter specific illegal threats).
“the Toronto Chief has been a well respected leader during his tenure. Do you really wish to target his actions? ”
YES; Of course! he’s on record in the paper stating there is an unconstitutional law (which didn’t exist) being enforced during the G20. That’s a violation of Canadians’ rights. That’s not even respectable behaviour for him, much less legal. Someone who doesn’t lie would be a nice start.
“where on this planet have you seen that in action?”
So if something good does not exist on this earth, you shouldn’t strive for it? My, what lofty goals you have for this country.
SB,
You have mis-understood me. When Tommy and his friend were marching with their placards and doing the peaceful protest thing, I was all for his rights to do so. When that ended and the other stuff started happening and he knew it was happening (from news reports) yet he returned to the front lines, he broke with the peaceful protesters and started down a path that foreseeably ended with his detention.
For him to afterwards claim his right to do everything he did and criticize the officals for doing their job is immature and narcissistic. He apparently needs a little more humilty then he presently has.
It is at this point we disagree.
I am all for peacefully demonstrating for items of closely held values. That is not what Tommy did.
You do not need to guard “our” country from me. And do not forget it is my country too.