Brutality Canada

These two messages just arrived. Our roving reporter will meet with outreach workers next week for a tour of Ottawa streets and a meeting with some of Ottawa's homeless who are being abused by Ottawa's finest. Please check back for further reports.
 
Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2000 7:50 PM

Homeless Aboriginal Men Targeted in Ottawa

There has been an increase in police brutality towards homeless Aboriginal in Downtown Ottawa. Just last Friday, a man was kicked several times by two officers, then handcuffed and peppersprayed from close range. He was kept in the drunk tank for 12 hours without any assistance.

Sometimes this man causes a bit of trouble with the police, but this time he didn't really do anything wrong.

Spread the word, tell your associates that the homeless native men and women in this town are being targeted by police.

S. R.

Sent: Wednesday, August 09,2000 11 am
Hi there. My name is ____. I am the one who sent the info to Mary. I am a street outreach worker here in Ottawa, working for ___.

I work very closely with the man who was assaulted. Ottawa Innercity Ministries has already filed a complaint to police, plus partner agencies with the Street Outreach Network are strategizing a plan of action re a more formal complaint.

This man was reluctant to talk for fear of being targeted, but he also feels that he is already targeted.

Unfortunately, police activity of this type has increased since mid June. In fact, one man had his ankle re-broken, another Metis man is constantly harrassed and pushed around by police. Coincidentally, this increase took place around the same time as the riot at Queens Park in Toronto.

We're all trying to develop better relations with the police in order to do a better job, but these incidents of blatant abuse of police authority makes it all the more frustrating.

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