Amnesty International calls for inquiry into police tactics during G20
Probably the most questionable police decision coming out of the G20 is the “kettling” of a large crowd in the rain at Queen and Spadina on Sunday night. This and other actions by the combined forces of just about every Canadian police force have led to substantial criticism of the Integrated Security Unit—made up of the OPP, RCMP, Toronto Police and officers borrowed from all over. Now international watchdog Amnesty International is calling for a public inquiry into the police’s actions over this past weekend.
CBC reports:
The police did have a difficult job to do, said Alex Neve, Amnesty International Canada’s secretary general, but he questioned the extent of the security buildup.
“We’re concerned that both the extensive lead-up to the summit—the heavy, heavy police presence—[and] all of the talk of new weapons and unclear laws really led to quite a considerable chill.”
Amnesty said the heavy police presence in Toronto, as well as acts of vandalism and violence by some protesters, created an atmosphere of fear that kept many from taking part in peaceful demonstrations.
Mayor David Miller dismissed calls for an inquiry this morning, saying that while there would definitely be a “post-mortem” analysis of some kind (there were no fatalities; this was just bad wording), a full inquiry was not on. The Toronto Police Services board would investigate all complaints, just like normal.
Miller stayed on message by reminding Torontonians—in case they’d forgotten—that the real villains in all this are the feds. Somewhere, the combined forces of a lame-duck mayor and an international NGO have Stephen Harper quaking in his boots, we’re sure.
• Amnesty calls for summit security review [CBC]
• Watchdog calls for probe of G20 security measures [Toronto Sun]
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/city/amnesty-international-calls-for-inquest-in-to-police-tactics-during-g20/&title=Amnesty International calls for inquiry into police tactics during G20&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Amnesty.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_30765" align="alignleft" width="289" caption="Amnesty International marches as part of the peaceful group protest on Saturday afternoon (Image: Karon Liu)"][/caption]
Probably the most questionable police decision coming out of the G20 is the “kettling” of a large crowd in the rain at Queen and Spadina on Sunday night. This and other actions by the combined forces of just about every Canadian police force have led to substantial criticism of the Integrated Security Unit—made up of the OPP, RCMP, Toronto Police and officers borrowed from all over. Now international watchdog Amnesty International is calling for a public inquiry into the police's actions over this past weekend.
CBC reports:
The police did have a difficult job to do, said Alex Neve, Amnesty International Canada's secretary general, but he questioned the extent of the security buildup.
"We're concerned that both the extensive lead-up to the summit—the heavy, heavy police presence—[and] all of the talk of new weapons and unclear laws really led to quite a considerable chill."
Amnesty said the heavy police presence in Toronto, as well as acts of vandalism and violence by some protesters, created an atmosphere of fear that kept many from taking part in peaceful demonstrations.
Mayor David Miller dismissed calls for an inquiry this morning, saying that while there would definitely be a “post-mortem” analysis of some kind (there were no fatalities; this was just bad wording), a full inquiry was not on. The Toronto Police Services board would investigate all complaints, just like normal.
Miller stayed on message by reminding Torontonians—in case they'd forgotten—that the real villains in all this are the feds. Somewhere, the combined forces of a lame-duck mayor and an international NGO have Stephen Harper quaking in his boots, we're sure.
• Amnesty calls for summit security review [CBC]
• Watchdog calls for probe of G20 security measures [Toronto Sun]){kind=link}
Malcontent Anarchists and Lawlessness Inquiry Necessary
If a public inquiry is to be held it definitely must address the criminality by protesters and unmask the faces of all these anarchist malcontents.
Torontonians must be ensured that those individuals, unions and groups who aided or abetted such criminal and lawless action will not be covered up in any way.
Such lawless actions by masked malcontent anarchist protesters along with those who stood by urging them on and the University of Toronto student union that aided abetted these lawbreakers all left Toronto with a black mark stained by the ape like behavior of protesters.
They all showed their disregard for the world they live in and no regard for mankind, peace and the planet they dubiously claim to represent.
Blame the anarchist’s malcontents and civic terrorists not the police and the silence from incumbent councillors should be worrisome to all voters.
http://peterclarketoronto.com
First in my opinion these masked malcontent anarchist protesters blatantly ignored our civil laws and committed lawless criminal acts against mankind, peace and the planet they fictitiously claim to represent from the very beginning by threatening to illegally disrupt the summit itself and the civil liberties of those attending.
The police used their authority in attempts to prevent continued criminality and lawlessness and jailed malcontent anarchist protesters to ensure that further crimes against the city, private property would not be committed.
Secondly 70% of Torontonians DO NOT approve of the ape like criminality and lawless behavior by any protesters for whatever reasons. No so called protester has the legal right to interfere with the civil liberties of others, damage public or private property or disregard police orders for any reason.
Law abiding Torontonians do not seek revolutions and when so called protesters cannot and do not abide by the laws of a civil society at begin burning police cars and smashing store windows they themselves have then lost the right to protest.
Third those bystanders claiming to just be observing demonstrations of criminality and lawlessness are guilty by association and at the wrong place at the wrong time for the wrong reasons.
The apology that should be forthcoming is an apology from the union leaders and university of Toronto student union leaders who encouraged such criminality and lawlessness and even housed members of the black bloc.
Finally they further aided and abetted these malcontent anarchists by housing them our Toronto University dorms and for this action alone all law abiding citizens of Toronto are owed an apology forthwith and without any further delays.
Any public inquiry should be centered on the actions of specific union leaders and their accomplices.
http://peterclarketoronto.com
You are an idiot, Peter. They have a mechanism for investigating these criminals and for holding them accountable. It is called the police service. Are you saying they are incompetant? I personally believe that the police are more than capable.
Oh, and if it turns out that union leaders and U of T representatives knowingly housed those involved then, by all means, hold them accountable. But, it sounds to me like you are throwing around a whole lot of unfounded accusations. If the police couldn’t tell who was involved, how were regular citizens supposed to?
Just take a look at Peter Clarke’s website to see how much of a wingnut, and bad web designer, he is.
Not even worth refuting his many specious arguments.