Brutality Canada Police Brutality O Canada

Reclaim The Streets Event Invaded By Police On Horseback

Toronto's 'swinest' must have been craving an arrest fix or something - its been a bit of a drought for them just lately in terms of picking off activists. The dry spell came to an abrupt end at about nine this evening when the cops attacked a peaceful Reclaim the Streets celebration, charging into the crowd with horses, arresting three people and badly pepper-spraying a number of others.

People had begun to gather in Grange Park in downtown Toronto about seven this evening, bringing drums, costumes and even a DJ who showed up complete with a portable sound system and records. A barbecue was set up and hot corn-on-the-cob was shared among the participants. At about quarter to eight the boisterous crowd of about 300 people made its way south to John Street, then down to Queen Street West for a rousing street celebration!

As usual, the cops were there in droves ( something about these RTS events really seems to freak them out) but initially they kept their distance. The DJ set up his equipment atop a large trailer that had been left at the curb shortly before we arrived. Drums pounded, people danced, and there were even home movies being shown on a tiny hand-held screen! The BBQ was set up on the street and still more sweet corn was devoured.

Shortly before nine the cops made their first move, walking through the crowd (which had swelled as passersby joined in) and ordered people to retrace their steps north to the park. Folks responded by congregating in the intersection of Queen and John, chanting loudly as the cops formed a line along the south side of the street. The mounted unit advanced slowly, forcing people back up on to John Street.

Just south of the park some people attempted a flanking action, moving west along an intersecting street with the apparent aim of going back down to Queen St. At this point the cops made their move to arrest a woman, whom they'd apparently targeted for allegedly drawing on one of their horse trailers with chalk. Other people scrambled to her defense, the horses came rushing in, jets of pepper spray flew, and two more people were subsequently arrested.

One young man required medical attention after getting hit directly in the face with a sustained burst of pepper spray. A number of other people were also affected. At this point, the people still there decided to go to 52 Division to offer solidarity to the arrestees.

The young woman who was arrested first was released at a little after eleven this evening. As of midnight two others remain in police custody, and about forty people are maintaining a vigil outside the station.

Report submitted by Graeme Bacque
Home Page: http://bacque.graeme.tripod.com
Images of Struggle: http://graemesgallery.tripod.com

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This page created July 18, 2001