Calling for a Public Inquiry into the Toronto G20
- by: Katrina Carey
- recipient: Stephen Harper, Dalton Mcguinty
It's time for accountability.
We were -- and still are -- all affected by the events that took place on the weekend of June 26th and 27th 2010 during the G20 summit.
As many of you know, that weekend robbed us citizens of our rights as laid out by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We were lied to about the Public Works Protection Act. We were lied to about the "5 meter rule". We were not free.
That weekend cost tax payers approximately one billion dollars. Most of that went to increased security and militarizing the police force.
Over 1000 innocent people were arrested in the largest mass arrest in Canada's history. These people were detained without their rights in place. Many were told they had no rights. Food and adequate water were not given in a timely manner. There are reports of segregation of the gay community in the Eastern Ave. Detainment Center. Many were told "this isn't Canada right now". Most of these people later had their charges dropped.
The police were told to stand down while the "Black Bloc" ran rampant in the streets causing much of the damage you saw on the news.
Only after these so-called anarchists dispersed and were long gone were the police told to step in and do something. Unfortunately, that 'something' was to unleash beatings, rubber bullets, tear gas, sexual assaults, verbal threats, kettling, and arrests on the peaceful protesters and onlookers who were still exercising their supposed rights to peaceful assembly and free speech. (Sadly, this is only the tip of the iceberg and I encourage you to educate yourself more on the matter.)
It's time for accountability. It's time to unite our voices to call for a full public inquiry into the Toronto G20.
This inquiry should include but not be limited to:
- Why the location of downtown Toronto was chosen, incurring a bill of approximately one billion dollars and increased security, when other locations were available and at a lesser cost to citizens.
- Why, on June 26th did the police stand down while the black bloc group vandalized the city streets and the potential police use of agent provocateurs.
- Why, on June 26th were the peaceful protesters at the designated free speech zone in Queen's park scattered, some arrested and the actions of the police during that event.
- Why, on June 26th were the people on The Esplanade detained, then arrested and the actions of the police during that event.
- Why, on June 27th were the people gathered outside the Eastern Ave. detention centre scattered, some arrested and the actions of the police during that event.
- The conditions of the Eastern Ave. detention centre, the police treatment of the detainees - including the segregation of the individuals in the gay community and the release of the footage recorded by the cameras in the detention centre.
- Why, on June 27th were the people at Queen St. W. and Spadina Ave. detained for hours, some arrested, and the actions of the police during that event.
- The Government and Police use of psychological warfare on the people of Toronto.
- The use of Martial Law, and an abolishment or amendment of the Public Works Protection Act to meet constitutional standards.
- The Criminal Code provisions in regards to "breach of peace", "unlawful assemblies" and "riots" and a law reform so they meet constitutional standards.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and understanding the importance of a timely resolve to this matter.
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