Artist: Dave Ron of Vancouver
I've been reluctant to write a blog on the G20, because I do not consider it an area of my own expertise. I am not always clear on the reasons for the protest; some of it looked like a protest against China, some of it against the Israeli blockade of humanitarian aid, some of it appeared to protest the fact that commerce, not elected government, seems to be in charge of many of the world's decisions. Admittedly I haven't spent enough time learning about the protest, and the G20 it'self. However this is what I saw this weekend, and this is why I needed to write something.
I've been reluctant to write a blog on the G20, because I do not consider it an area of my own expertise. I am not always clear on the reasons for the protest; some of it looked like a protest against China, some of it against the Israeli blockade of humanitarian aid, some of it appeared to protest the fact that commerce, not elected government, seems to be in charge of many of the world's decisions. Admittedly I haven't spent enough time learning about the protest, and the G20 it'self. However this is what I saw this weekend, and this is why I needed to write something.
Granted there was property damage on Saturday by a certain small faction separate from the rest of the protest, but what I saw Sunday morning was brutal force being used against peaceful protesters. Last I remembered Canadians had the consitutionally protected right to peaceful protest! What does this look like to you? It looks like a police state! Where was the media in all of this? Attempting to get coverage, while police tried to prevent filming, and even arrested some photographers of one newspaper. Was it a small independant publication? No, it was the National Post!
Part of the reason all this has caused me concern and anxiety is that I know someone who is involved in the protest. Last night she uploaded the following message on Facebook:
"Police coralling people at queen and spadina for the past three hours. won't let people go. won't arrest them either."
As far as I know it is illegal to detain people without proper arrest, and this whole fiasco was an obstruction of our civil liberties. I am greatly dismayed.
Part of the reason all this has caused me concern and anxiety is that I know someone who is involved in the protest. Last night she uploaded the following message on Facebook:
"Police coralling people at queen and spadina for the past three hours. won't let people go. won't arrest them either."
As far as I know it is illegal to detain people without proper arrest, and this whole fiasco was an obstruction of our civil liberties. I am greatly dismayed.
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