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People, don't take it lying down. Get up and stand up for your rights. Refuse and resist!!!

Read more about the conference of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

When: Tuesday May 22, 4pm

Where: Old City Hall Courthouse (Queen & Bay) - TORONTO

Why: TO DEMONSTRATE OUR RAGE AGAINST POLICE SILENCING CRITICS OF THE GOVERNMENT

Read the full report.

MARCH 15th, 2001

OUR STRUGGLE HAS NO BORDERS
DOWN WITH POLICE STATES EVERYWHERE
HELP ORGANISE INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY

March 15 2001 marks the fifth year of this international day of protest and solidarity against police brutality. It first began in 1997 as an initiative of the Black Flag collective in Switzerland along with the help of COBP (French acronym for Citizens Opposed to Police Brutality) of Montreal. Since its first year, the International Day Against Police Brutality (IDAPB) has been a success. This date was chosen because on March 15th, two children, aged 11 and 12, were beaten by the Swiss police.

This day of denouncing police brutality is also an opportunity to create and strengthen ties between groups that work directly or indirectly against State brutality around the world. It permits the creation of an indispensable international solidarity in the fight against police forces that collaborate world-wide and are extremely well organized. The IDAPB, which concretely represents this solidarity, should not be overlooked as an element in the development and need to denounce police brutality. The day shatters the myth of unanimity about the virtues of the police (positive values promoted especially by TV cop shows, Hollywood films and mass media). It also ends the isolation of groups and individuals who, engaged in this struggle, are subjected to daily repression.

The modern State's favoured instrument of repression, the police, is a fairly recent development in history: In the early 1800s, industrialisation is in full swing, people are migrating to the cities, becoming urban workers and swelling the proletarian class. Class conflicts increase when the bourgeoisie (urban ruling class) and industrial property (capital) live in close proximity to workers. With the increasing agitation and organisation of workers, the police is instituted to fight labour and protect industrial property.

Which "crime" shall be punished or not is left to the police's discretion; which laws shall be enforced, where and at what time, and especially who is forced to respect the law, is decided by the police. In effect, the police, the right arm of the State, abuses its power on a daily basis and exercises its violence with near total impunity. The police continuously and everywhere violate the very laws that they are supposed to uphold. The police check identity, spy, double-deal, hustle, repress, ticket, despise, pursue, arrest, imprison, deport, harass and beat up; they inflict indignity, they torture and they kill. Their primary targets are the "undesirables of society," (the dangerous classes): the poor, the homeless, people of colour, immigrants and persons with irregular status ("illegal immigrants" and people who work under-the-table), sex workers, activists, the marginalised, student activists, organised workers, queer, gender-based and feminist activists and people who question and don't accept the legitimacy of the authorities.

As well, the last few years have seen the emergence of world-wide movements against capitalist globalisation. This also has resulted in mass repression and recurring police violence. Whether it is in Prague, Seattle or Vancouver, in Seoul or Washington, during several demonstrations, carnivals and actions, a bewildering and under-reported number of persons were victims or witnesses of police brutality, abuses, "preventive" arrests (kidnapping), unlawful imprisonment, inhuman jail conditions, and in several cases, torture.

In response to the widening gap between rich and poor, the deepening of poverty and the general deterioration of living conditions, governments invest in police forces to do what it takes to maintain order and social peace. For example, there is the deplorable tendency during demonstrations of resorting to so-called less-than-lethal weaponry (tested in hardened regional conflicts like Northern Ireland, Palestine, Indonesia, etc.). In opposition to the State's drift towards fascism, we have the responsibility to act and support all victims of State force. We keenly invite you to participate in the International Day Against Police Brutality (IDAPB).

Until now, this event has taken place in several forms; street theatre, murals, publications, demonstrations, conferences, postering, workshops, exhibitions, radio and television shows, and cultural events. Some groups have organised more than one activity while others have formed coalitions. All collectives or individuals decide on what type of action, depending on the political climate of their country, the energy and willingness of people to organise an event, the resources available, etc. The key thing is the imagination and the creativity of the people involved.

If you can't do something on March 15th, try to do something as close to the date as possible. If you can't or don't want to participate, spread this message. Translations of this text are very much appreciated. For questions, commentaries, or to know more about COBP, write us or e-mail us and visit our web site at: COBP.

Mailing address:
COBP
c/o The Alternative Bookshop
2035 St-Laurent 2nd floor
Montreal, Quebec
Canada H2X 2T3

E-mail: cobp@hotmail.com or seahorse@odyssee.net.

Quebec Summit Update

April is now only two months away and scarves have just been outlawed. Since April is often cold in Quebec City, there'll be lots of arrests even before the planned summit events.

April is only four months away. Already the authorities in Quebec are planning for a massive security force at the Summit of the Americas conference in Quebec City, April 2001. Click here to read more about the mobilization against the conference and the FTAA.

From A psychiatric survival broadsheet...

On February 20, 1997, thirty-five year old Edmond Yu was gunned down on a Toronto city bus by one of three cops who were attempting to take him into custody under the  Mental Health Act.

Just this past August the 9th, 55-year old Otto Vass was apparently beaten and kicked to death outside a west-end Seven-Eleven store where he had apparently gone to purchase a bottle of barbecue sauce.

At the time of his death, Edmond (according to eyewitnesses) was holding a small hammer which he displayed in a ‘non-threatening’ manner to these three cops who had cornered him in the back of the bus. These three were cleared of wrongdoing by the Special Investigations Unit.

According to witnesses, Otto Vass was thrown to the ground ‘without provocation’ by one or more of the four cops who had moments before escorted him from the store. The police were described as beating him ‘worse than an animal’ while he lay on the sidewalk in handcuffs. The four officers are facing charges of manslaughter.

The mainstream media has done everything in its power to demonize these two victims by promoting the ‘fact’ that both men had histories of psychiatric intervention, and by illustrating alleged examples of bizarre behavior in their pasts.

The below actions are from the year 2000 but contain important information for your interest.

The Toronto Police Force, as well as Ontario Provincial Police and other regional Police, have been increasingly brutish and repressive in recent years.

Speakers: Hassan Husseini, Communist Party of Canada (Ontario) Organizer; Arrested for involvement in the June 15th OCAP demo
Julian Ichim Student Activist; Arrested for tossing chocolate milk at Canadian Alliance Leader Stockwell Day
Christopher Black Defence Attorney, Activist

Send your comments and stories of police brutality to: ruitsdawtah@Hotmail.com

This page updated October 19,2001