Let’s not repeat G20 at Occupy protest, says open letter to police

KIM MACKRAEL

Globe and Mail Update

Published Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011 2:40PM EDT

City police at this weekend’s Occupy Toronto protests should take steps to avoid a repeat of the mass arrests and kettling that occurred during last year’s G20 summit, a local blogger says.

Toronto activists say they will occupy a public space near the city’s financial district beginning Oct. 15 to protest the gap between the wealthiest 1 per cent of people and the rest of the world. The demonstration is one of hundreds planned in cities around the world and will mimic the Occupy Wall Street protest, which began three weeks ago.

In an open letter addressed to police chief Bill Blair and the Toronto police service, Justin Beach said the public will be watching police closely during next week’s Occupy protest and will hold them accountable for any actions that undermine protesters’ rights.

“Neither the people of Toronto, nor I’m sure, its police force want to see a repeat of the G20 weekend,” Mr. Beach wrote, adding “all officers should have their badges visible at all times,” in a reference to some of the G20 cases in which citizens launched complaints against officers who had covered their badge numbers and were therefore difficult or impossible to identify. READ THE FULL ARTICLE:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/lets-not-repeat-g20-at-occupy-protest-says-open-letter-to-police/article2197544/