CANADIAN POLITICS/CANADIAN LABOUR:

A MILE OF BULLSHIT FOR AN INCH OF TRUTH:

You could not imagine my joy when I came across the following at the CEP Union website. It beautifully ties together the last two posts, one about undercover police and one about a branch of the CEP union. The photo above would be a true cold water bath to try and shock certain 'fashion anarchists' who disgrace the name into some sort of realization of what they are doing. Flick it in front of them and ask, "who are the good guys and the bad guys in this picture".

The answer. The three masked hoods to the right are actually three undercover policemen who were caught red-handed at the 2007 Montebello summit trying to get the rock throwing going. What they were has long since been independently verified, though their identities and who gave the orders for their actions are still a deep dark secret two years later. The grizzled old guy in the suit at the left (an appropriate position ) is Dave Coles of the CEP Union, one of the unionists present at the demonstration who intercepted the 'Police/Black Bloc' before they could put their plan into action and sent them skittering behind police lines for protection. Since that time the CEP Union has taken a somewhat personal interest in getting to the bottom of this incident. Here, from their website, is their latest news on the subject.

õõõõõõõõõõõõõõõõ
Union dragged through bogus process to find out who gave undercover police orders at Montebello:
OTTAWA (December 3, 2009 ) -- As Canada prepares to host the G20 summit next spring, the president of one of Canada’s largest unions is committed to ensuring that protesters won’t be baited by undercover police, as they were at the North American Leaders Summit in Montebello, Qc.

“We are being dragged through a bogus process to get to the bottom of what really happened at Montebello,” says Dave Coles, president of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union, “but we are determined to leave no stone unturned to find out who gave police their orders.”

“It is crucial,” he says, “that as the G-20 meeting looms for next spring, that Canadians can confidently exercise their free speech rights, free from the threat of police intimidation and violence.”

“At the same time, world leaders must know that they can come to Canada without having to worry about violence instigated by police agents to discredit those who want to assemble peacefully to express their views.”

Coles made headlines two years ago when his attempts to stop undercover police officers from infiltrating the peaceful protest were posted on YouTube.

CEP immediately called for an independent judicial inquiry to find out who ordered the police to try to turn a peaceful protest into a violent one, but was told it had to take the case through the Quebec Ethics Committee, established under the Police Act.

That committee has now agreed to a public hearing, but is seeking to hand prosecution of the case over to a public official who has already concluded that the police involved should be excused of wrongdoing.

“So the guy who is prosecuting, is the same guy who has already whitewashed the whole affair,” says Coles. “It’s a total charade.”

CEP today took the precedent-setting step of applying for standing as a party to the hearing before the Ethics Committee with the right to call evidence and conduct cross examination.

“CEP is committed to getting to the bottom of what really happened at the Montebello Summit in 2007, says Coles. “We will continue to push for an independent judicial inquiry into this whole cover up, and take whatever steps we need to get there.”
MORE INFORMATION: Dave Coles (613) 299-5628

LOCAL NEWS- WINNIPEG:

WINNIPEG COPWATCH NEWSLETTER:

The first, and hopefully not the only, Winnipeg Copwatch newsletter is now out on the wire. You can view and download it from the Winnipeg Copwatch website or the Winnipeg Copwatch Facebook group. Lots of interesting stuff. Headlines include:

***Have Your Story Heard-Winnipeg Copwatch Audio project Coming Soon

***Protecting the Right to Copwatch

***Seeking Justice for Wilfred Asham

***Police Accountability News Briefs

***Tips for Recording the Police

***The basics of Arrests and Detentions:Searches, Silence and Showing Your Identification

Drop on over to one of the sites and see what it's all about.

LOCAL ISSUES-WINNIPEG:

IT'S A MATTER OF DEFINITION:

I've often suspected that there was some "cooking the books" involved in the reported CrimeStats provided by the Winnipeg City Police and dutifully reported by the local media. The decreases in some categories of crime have seemed to be too good to be true. If one were to extrapolate from what has been published one would hazard a guess that in 5 years the city police would have little else to do besides hunt down all those vicious jaywalkers and those who spit on the street. The reality is something different than the picture portrayed by the CrimeStats.

There are many ways of lying with statistics. Perhaps the most common way for such projects as CrimeStats is to change definitions in midstream. This can work both ways. Not only can numbers be erased by removing certain acts from the definitions of incident (to make the police look good). Should there be sufficient political pressure and the promise of increased funding other categories can be artificially inflated. The issue of "street gangs" which is in the news recently here in Winnipeg would be an easy target. How many kids are in "street gangs" depends upon your definition of such, and by manipulating the definition you can easily produce a number 10 times higher than the previous one (and, of course, show success in subsequent years-after the money has been doled out- by gradually shrinking the definition).

Here is one example from the Winnipeg Copwatch site of how one category of crime, sexual assault, has had its definition altered. There is also a link to a petition to change the definition back to the previous one where when the victim knows the attacker it is still considered sexual assault. It's an interesting and actually troubling way for stats to be cooked.

LILILILILILILI

CrimeStat no longer recognizes sexual assault where the attacker is known to the victim:
The M.s. Citizenship Feminist Collective is encouraging people to sign a petition to return the definition of sexual assault on the police’s CrimeStat service to one that includes attacks where the perpetrator is known to the victim.

“As of January 1 2008, Winnipeg Police Services’ CrimeStat service changed the definition of sexual assault to ‘an offence that combines the components of assault with circumstances of a sexual nature where the suspect is not known to the victim’ (emphasis added) from the definition based on the Criminal Code which includes sexual assaults where the suspect is known or unknown to the victim. Over 78% of assault in Winnipeg is perpetrated by a suspect known to the victim (Statistic found in ‘Mean Streets?’ Comak, Chopyk and Wood, p.7). This definition change is not in line with Crimestat’s stated principles of disseminating accurate information and promoting transparency and accountability. Winnipeg is the only Canadian city which reports on sexual assaults in this way (As reported by Gabrielle Giroday in the article “ Board wants police website to report all sexual assaults” in the Winnipeg Free Press, May 29, 2009).

We believe that finding holistic and effective solutions to domestic and sexual abuse begins with being given accurate information.

LILILILILILILI

THE PETITION:

Please go to the Winnipeg CopWatch site to add your name to the following petition.

LILILILILILILI

We the undersigned, demand that Crimestat and Winnipeg Police Services restore the original definition to include those sexual assaults perpetrated by someone known to the victim. We believe that finding holistic and effective solutions to domestic and sexual abuse begins with being given accurate information.

CANADIAN ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-HAMILTON:

POLICE KEEPING A BEADY EYE ON THE HAMILTON ANARCHIST BOOKFAIR:

This one probably falls under the "unintentional comedy" heading. Here, from the website of the Ontario platformist organization Linchpin is their response to a recently released Hamilton police report. There is much more on this subject over at the Ontario section of the Anarchist Black Cat discussion board(see our Links section).

Now there is a lot to be said about anarchist bookfairs, some good and some bad. At least here in Canada the descriptive adjective would mostly be good. Down USA way, which actually has a far higher population of loons than we do of our national bird up here, the worst insult that could be directed -to a minority of the events- would be weird. But a "hate crimes" connection ? You gotta be kidding. No doubt occasional nutters of the fascist persuasion to sometimes try and exploit the overgrown tolerance of anarchists, but they are pretty well always rapidly shown the door, often in a less than gentle fashion. In any case they are inevitably outnumbered by about 50 to one by other people with strange hobby horses. Be an anarchist for say 10 years, and it is doubtful that you would meet any fascist trying to fish in the anarchist pool. Be an anarchist for one months, however, and you will inevitably meet several bizarros who want to "abolish civilization", amongst other strange ideas. That God that they don't constitute the majority.

The police report actually has all the earmarks of a police "anti-hate" project that has too little to do in the city of Hamilton. Ah, the Devil and idle hands. One gets a picture of some guy behind a desk waiting for months on end for a bit of graffiti on a wall or a knocked down tombstone. Waiting and waiting and waiting. In order to avoid their activities being seen as useless (with the frightening prospect of being assigned back to patrol duty in mind) this collection of officers has tried to assume everything that used to be the province of the 'Red Squad' under their aegis. Who knows maybe Red Squads have been deemed to be a piece of bad PR, and it may become a trend to rename them as "anti-hate" divisions while forgetting about what "hate crimes" are actually supposed to be.

Yup, some of my "comrades" can be right strange, but this little "learned report" from the Hamilton police shows that such weirdness can be exceeded by others. On to Linchpin's comments.

@@@@@@@@@@

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Anarchists call Police report comparing activism to hate crime "chilling":
HAMILTON- Local members of the provincial anarchist organization Common Cause fear Hamilton police are seeking to criminalize local organizers after a Hamilton police report identified the 2nd annual Hamilton Anarchist Book Fair as a potential source of hate crime.

While presenting the Year-End Hate Crime report (available online)to the Hamilton Police Board on May 19, acting sergeant Michael Gochstated police would be “actively monitoring” the book fair scheduled to take place on June 6.

Alex Diceanu, Ontario Treasurer of Common Cause responded, "As the organizers of the annual book fair, and as local anarchists and activists, Common Cause is deeply disturbed by these statements.

"This is a manipulation of hate crime laws to criminalize activism. At this time of economic and environmental crisis, alongside increasing political disengagement, activism and educational events such as the book fair should be encouraged, not chilled with surveillance."

The report also identifies the 2010 G8 summit (Huntsville, ON), the 2010 Olympics, “local native land reclamation issues”, “the anarchist movement” and “anti-government and anti-establishment reaction of economic crisis and job losses” as trends and events that “may have significant impacts and repercussions on the Hamilton community in terms of hate/bias related incidents.”

For the first time the report also includes incidents of graffiti aimed at police even though this contradicts the report's own definition of a hate crime.

Diceanu commented, "We are concerned that public resources meant to investigate hate crimes are being focused upon people trying to improve this community."

The Hamilton Anarchist Book Fair is not a threat to the community.

It is open to the public and family-friendly, featuring free child care and a kid's workshop.
Over 300 people attended last year's book fair. Activists will gather again this year to exchange literature and other forms of information.

Workshops at the book fair attempt to address issues faced by marginalized groups named in hate crimes legislation, including indigenous peoples, racialized groups, people facing disability barriers and others. Other workshops address the economic crisis, environmental justice and workplace organizing.

"Common Cause's Basic Policy states clearly that, and I quote, 'we actively oppose all manifestations of oppression such as racism, sexism, [religious] sectarianism and homophobia and we struggle against them.'

Indeed, anarchists have always sought to understand and end all forms of oppression in our struggle to create a world marked by true equality, freedom, peace, and harmony with the natural environment" says Diceanu

The full police report is available here (look for the May 19 Hamilton Police Services Board Public Agenda package at the top of the page).
http://www.hamiltonpolice.on.ca/HPS/PoliceServicesBoard/
For more information please contact:
commoncauseontario@gmail.com

@@@@@@@@@@

But about the Hamilton Anarchist Bookfair itself, coming up soon, here, also from Linchpin, is the callout.

@@@@@@@@@@

2nd annual Hamilton Anarchist Book Fair, June 6:

For the second year in a row, Hamilton will be home to Ontario's only Anarchist Book Fair, happening June 6, from 10am to 4pm at Westdale Collegiate, 700 Main St. West . Over 300 people from all over southern Ontario took part in Hamilton's first anarchist book fair, held last June.

For those not familiar with anarchist book fairs you can expect a couple dozen or so publishers and book stores to be on hand offering literature in various forms (as well as the occasional t-shirt) at affordable prices. You can expect to find just about every social justice issue covered from the environment, to women's struggles to radical history and theory. Many local activist groups will also be on hand to share information about important struggles happening in our community and beyond.

You will also be able to attend a series of talks and workshops as you take a break from browsing books. Workshop topics include environmental justice, workplace organizing, Palestinian and First Nations struggles against colonialism, disability politics and more. A kids' workshop, organized by and for children, will also be held so parents are encouraged to bring along their little ones. Wayne Price, author of “The Abolition of the State: Anarchist and Marxist Perspectives” will feature as the key note speaker. He will be speaking on the current global economic crisis. For full details including a list of vendors and workshop descriptions please see the book fair's website at http://hamiltonanarchistbookfair.wordpress.com/vendors/

Admission is free. Lunch and child care will also be provided free of cost. The building is wheelchair accessible from the back parking lot.

The book fair is organized by the Hamilton branch of Ontario anarchist group, Common Cause. They can be contacted for more info at hamiltonanarchistbookfair@gmail.com.

JAPAN:

SOLIDARITY WITH ARRESTED ANTI-G8 ACTIVIST:

The following notice is from the Asian Anarchist Network, an online board for anarchists in or interested in anarchist events in Asia. It concerns the pre-emptive strikes that the Japanese police are making against activists in that country in preparation for the G8 conference coming up this month. Read it and give what solidarity you can. Molly would also like to note in passing about how the ABC in Asia (and eastern Europe for that matter) is true to its presumed original function ie supporting anarchists who have run afoul of the law for political reasons. This is in stark contrast to the situation in North America where the vast majority of the efforts are directed either to Maoist and nationalist criminals or those of these groups who have made a "jail-house conversion" to anarchism (about as much to be trusted as a jail-house conversion to Jesus-there is no greater concentration of "born-again Christians" than in maximum security-can we say "parole board"). The situation in western Europe is mixed, and has been the matter of much debate there where the American concept of "political correctness" is less overwhelming than here. Molly wants to state here and now that anarchist prison solidarity should be restricted to either anarchists who are not guilty of childish attempts at terrorism (leave that field to the Islamists where it belongs) and legitimate ordinary people of whatever political persuasion who are struggling against the ruling class of their country without trying to become a new ruling class ie no commies- who are never "ordinary people" anyways.

But enough of the rant. Here's the notice.

...............................................

Anarchist in Kansai area (West Japan) arrested (Rebel-Jill)‏
Tabi Rounin, better known as 'Rebel_Jill' has been detained by police on minor charges in the run-up to the G8 in Japan, as the police attempt to investigate his international connections and disrupt his revolutionary activities. This is a known tactic of the Japanese political police, see here for more information about this tactic and an interview with Tabi:

Interview with Comrade 'M

'http://www.325collective.com/social-control_m.html

Interview with Rebel-Jil

lhttp://www.325collective.com/interviews_rebel-jill.html

No Justice, No Peace - Fight the Police

----------(From Osaka ABC)---------

We denounce the arrest of our comrade, Tabi Rounin! Release him now!

On the morning of June 4th, 2008, comrade Tabi Rounin, a squatter liberation activist, was arrested on the charge of "Illegal Address Registration" (in other words, living somewhere he is not registered to live at). His house was searched and more than 14 items were taken including his computer, his phone, resume and fliers. Clearly searching someone's house simply because their address is still registered at their parents' house goes beyond simple police work.

This is pre-emptive repression with one eye towards the economic summit being held on June 14th and 15th. He is currently being held in Koriyama police station in Nara prefecture and in 5 days will be put in front of the judge. There are hundreds of people every year who have their IDs registered to their family's residence. To be arrested on 'Illegal Address Registration' is unheard of beyond political repression.

Tabi Rounin had stopped his activity within Osaka city, where the high class apartment buildings of the rich stretch on for miles, and had been active around the working class cities and suburbs around Osaka and Kawachi, connecting to squatters with no organized political presence or assistance, connecting to foreigners working for low wages in factories around his area. He is a working class revolutionary from the roots who fought an isolated battle. There are many anarchists overseas who have found sympathy with his selfless style of activity.

We fiercely protest this repression against the movement that we have helped build! Police, release Tabi Rounin immediately!

June 6th, Anarchist Black Cross Osaka

We are requesting contributions for Tabi Rounin's early parole.

Please send contributions to the address below.

We also would appreciate support packages.

Osaka city, Kita-ku Nakazakichou 3-3-1-401

Jiyuu Roudousha Rengou Kizuke]

Anarchist Black Cross

RUSSIA:

SOLIDARITY ACTIONS AGAINST RUSSIAN POLICE BRUTALITY:

The following is from the English language section of the Russian anarchist site Avtonom. Molly has blogged on a couple of these actions previously. The following has been slightly edited for reasons of English grammar.

..............................................

19.04.2008

Actions against police brutality continue in Moscow and around the world
Yesterday 18th of April a demonstration marching from Pushkin square towards Belarus Railway station blocked Tverskaya street between 7:40 and 20:10 PM in Moscow. This was a continuation of the reaction to brutal torture at Sokolniky police station 4th of April (http://www.avtonom.org/index.php?nid=1697),and the legal action 11th of April which finished in a confrontation, provoked by the OMON riot police (http://www.avtonom.org/index.php?nid=1701). As legalizing an action does not guarantee freedom from police infringement, this time people decided to go without it. There was also a legal action the same day, announced by some human rights activists, which police ordered to Bolotnaya Square -an isolated spot in a park in an island in the Moscow river, where there were no any passers by at 300 meter radius. Eventually up to 100 mostly old school liberal activists gathered there.

But lack of passers by was not the case with Pushkinskaya square, one of the main hang-arounds in the center of Moscow. Police had not received a hint of the alternative plan, and a march with huge 10+ meter banner with text "No to brutality" and with a picture of crossed-over cop was unrolled to halt all traffic on the Tverskaya street in the exit direction from Moscow. Some 200 demonstrators lit sea torches and other fireworks and shouted anti-police slogans - Our cops are "protecting us", first they frame us up and then they beat us up!, This is our city!, Get to the streets - reclaim the city!, Antifa!, Raise the black flag higher -the state is our main enemy! and international A.C.A.B! Pushkin square constantly has a van of cops on guard in case of illegal protests, but they were slow to react. Eventually the action was followed by 3 buses of OMON riot police, but as they ended up to huge traffic jam caused by the action. They only made it to Belorussian station 5-10 minutes after marchers had dispersed and disappeared. Good, as blocking a road of federal importance may result felony charges in Russia.

Although not all participators were anarchists, this was definitely among the most significant actions initiated by the anti-authoritarian scene in Moscow during the last 20 years. The information agency "RIA-Novosti" was relying solely on police sources, and they announced that "a huge traffic jam in the center was due to 20 football hooligans crossing the road". This claim was widely ridiculed in the internet, but published by surprisingly many mainstream sources - apparently these days there is not much free media in Russia left outside the internet.

Besides Moscow, the last two weeks have seen solidarity actions in Arkangelsk, Samara, Tyumen and St. Petersburg of Russia and in Helsinki and Kiev abroad. Actions are also planned at least in Paris and Sidney.

The struggle continues!

Photos:

http://streetsmedia.livejournal.com/104626.html

http://formicaleo.livejournal.com/21545.html

http://marsky.ru/foto/2008-04-18/

http://anatrrra.livejournal.com/73890.html

http://untouchable-kid.livejournal.com/157176.html

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0Y30lQ6430

http://borko.livejournal.com/337738.html

http://community.livejournal.com/anarchia_ru/218637.html

http://ru.indymedia.org/newswire/display/20367/index.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSaIksvqpKg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RDwCFeON6g&eurlImage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOmO6wAo6cw&eurl

RUSSIA:

A MEETING AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY IN MOSCOW ENDS IN POLICE BRUTALITY:

The following news report is from Avtonom, a Russian anarchist news site. It has been slightly edited for English grammar.

............................................

Yesterday, the 11th of April there was a meeting in Slavyanskiy square in Moscow, exactly one week after some youths were brutally tortured in theSokolniy police station. The meeting was organised by a spontaneous initiative, but leaflets distributed linked to the website of the Anarchist Black Cross - ABC Moscow (www.avtonom.org/abc). The action was legal but ended up in chaos. It was well attended, up to 300 participants, but cops let only 200 inside riot fences, announcing that "organisers had requested a permission for merely 200 participators". Tensions were immediately raised, and demonstrators surrounded police who were controlling the entrance, shouting among other slogans "Follow your own laws!", as there is no legal pretext in Russia for police to limit entrance to demonstrations.

The police also did not liked a huge "Stop police brutality"-banner, and soon about a dozen OMON riot police attacked the people holding the banner,beating them with truncheons and electro-shockers(tasers-Molly).

What followed was a mini-riot during which some bottles landed on the heads of some police. Eventually 25 persons were arrested, as far as we know all of them were released today with misdemeanor charges, with an order to show up in court in Monday, and none of them was tortured in the police station. Although torture in Sokolniky police station was completely ignored in almost all the Russian media, apparently we managed to make so much noise that police made efforts to avoid torture yesterday.

Photos:

http://www.novayagazeta.ru/news/254446.html

http://sterm-fuck.livejournal.com/90036.html

Video:

http://ru.indymedia.org/newswire/display/20336/index.php

http://newtimes.ru/news/2008-04-11/2008-04-11-9/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RDwCFeON6g&eurl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOmO6wAo6cw&eurl

Background about torture in Sokolniky police station

:http://avtonom.org/index.php?nid=1697

(source: http://avtonom.org/index.php?nid=1701)

CANADIAN JUSTICE:

POLICE TETHERING OF VICTORIA TEEN WAS TORTURE, SAYS LAWYER:

Three years ago, in May 2005, Victoria teenager Willow Kinloch was testing her wings ie getting a bit drunk on a night out. She was dropped off at her home, but, having lost her keys (hic!!!), she couldn't get in. Instead of doing something sensible neighbours, when they saw her staggering about on the lawn, called the police. Thus began a night of horror for Willow. Whoo!,whoo !, whoo!, a police car showed up to arrest her and take her in. I guess it was a very slow night, but maybe every night is slow in Victoria. Here in Winnipeg the word on the street is that, if you want the cops to show up in less than four hours when somebody is attacking someone else with a knife or a bat, that you bullshit 911 and tell them that somebody has already "been hurt". If you tell the truth that the disaster hasn't happened yet they'll likely need the ambulance anyways when it does. In any case a cruiser arrived to take Willow, then 15, in.

First the cops tried to take Willow home (after, of course, a long detour down to the cop shop-too strange). The neighbour had alleged that Willow was not just drunk but had also taken ecstasy. How this can be determined by peaking through curtains I will leave up to the readers imagination. let's just say that the neighbour sleuthed out something that no trained sniffer dog could ever have done, especially from behind a crack in window curtains. When the cops returned Willow to her home she couldn't find her key (well, that was pretty obvious the first time around), and with two stand-ins fro the Incredible Hulk glaring at her she couldn't figure out how to use the buzzer to call up to her parents' apartment. You can gather that the girl was pretty well hysterical by now. Back to the cop shop where they threw will into a padded cell to sober up, a process well underway by this time.

Down at the tank Willow at first refused to get out of the cruiser car, doing the hysterical bit of course. The cops did a bit of "manual override" and hustled her into the cell (see graphic above for "the cell"). Once in the cell Willow continued with her panic, kicking the door of the room. She was,however, cooperative enough to remove both her sweater and her bra. Later a prison matron came in (a little diversion here, such people are "affectionately" known as "Big Bertha" amongst the intellectuals of the jailhouse). Further stripping was demanded. Now, at 15 years of age Willow had no clue that when Big Bertha says "get down on your knees" you do indeed get down on your knees with no complaint. In doing further stripping Willow kicked one of her shoes off against a wall of the cell. Bad move. Big Bertha went nuts, grabbed the kid by the throat and shoved her up against the wall (see the video at THIS SITE for the play-by-play). Before Big Bertha could succeed in killing the kid two male officers rushed into the cell. Between the three they easily outweighed Willow by six to one(eight to one if you consider the matron as an outstanding example of "Berthaness"). Never mind the one cop who stood by the doorway, watching the whole affair. How can you say "outnumbered" ?

The response ? Police first handcuffed Willow's hands behind her back. They then hogtied her feet and dragged the cord underneath the cell door(see above photograph from the video surveillance in the cell), trapping the teenager in helpless distress for four hours. It helps to be 15 years of age. Older people or those who are overweight subjected to such treatment might easily go into respiratory distress.

Willow, now 18, has launched a civil suit against the City of Victoria and the Victoria police claiming excessive use of force and unlawful confinement. A lawyer, Murray Mollard, from the B.C. Civil Liberties Association called the ordeal that Willow endured "almost inhumane treatment of a young girl" and "cruel and unusual punishment, really". Emphasis on the "really" ! The civil court case is due to begin in June.

God bless the age of video. In years past such things would hardly ever have come to light. In these times the police pretty well have to have everything on tape, and making the evidence "mysteriously disappear" often leads to more trouble than the incident recorded would have. Yet, just as in the case of the taser death of a Polish immigrant at Vancouver International airport last year, the existence of such tapes doesn't mean that the police will not delay release of said evidence for as long as is possible- in hopes the problem will disappear in the meantime. People do move, deaths do happen and people do give up. The taser incident took weeks for the person who videoed it to obtain the release of his film. In the case of Willow Kinloch the civil suit had been dragging on for 3 years until the police finally released the video last Tuesday.

The Victoria Police Department, by the way, is now the subject of 36 investigations into police contact. at least ten lawsuits are in the court dockets named the police as as defendants. The police chief of Victoria has been suspended due to a RCMP probe into "unknown allegations".; One can hardly imagine the situation where the police don't publicly release information on "allegations" made against ordinary members of the public. Seems like the Chief of Police has privileges the rest of us don't have. One should also note that such incidents are hardly restricted to the City of Victoria. It's just that the vast majority of them never come to light.

Just this day Molly was over visiting some folks in Winnipeg's "gandland". The conversation turned to how difficult it was to get the police to respond at the block where these people live (which has two gang houses). The block isn't actually that bad. There hasn't been a murder there for almost 7 years. One street up and a little to the east there is a block where a murder takes place pretty well every year (twice last year). The last murder on the first block, however, was a doozy. After three !!!! 911 calls to the residence the police finally !!! showed up 9 hours later to discover two women stabbed to death. The perp was actually only caught because one of his friends turned him in. The situation was quite different many years back when a policeman's mother lived on the block. Once 9 cruiser cars showed up to arrest one guy. They did it. He was handcuffed and on the ground. Then it seemed like every last cop had to have a go at beating him. It was a rather gruesome sight, and my informant went out and told the police sergeant in charge to call off his officers. When the sergeant started to give him grief he was informed in no uncertain terms that if he let it continue that his name would be on the television that night. The beating was called off, and within less than 5 minutes the arrestee was in the back of a cruiser heading for his vacation at the Crowbar Resort.

If you are interested in this sort of thing I suggest you check out the Cop Watch.Net site. This is pretty well much American only. We also have our own group here in Winnipeg, the Copwatch Winnipeg.