At approximately 3:00pm on Saturday May 27th, three immigrants rights protesters and one independent journalist were arrested at a peaceful demonstration on Queen Street in Fredericton. Asaf Rashid, Chris Erb, Duane Rouselle, and Theresa Taylor were all arrested for “failure to disperse”. One independent media journalist was arrested with video and photos of the days events. There are reports of excessive force being used on the arrestees.
The detainees have just been released (3:40pm) with minor fines and with one person experiencing minor injuries. The camera was recovered. When asked to give a reason for the arrest, one officer responded “Do you think I need a reason?” Officers refused to give badge numbers or reveal their identities. None of the arrestees were read their rights. Rashid was struck in his ribs, thrown to the ground and hand cuffed and then “slapped on his ass”, recounts one witness. “Next time I ask you to leave you better fucking leave”, said one officer. After being thrown into the police van all arrestees were taken to the police station. Rashid was interrogated about the event and his nationality. Others were asked standard questions for the purpose of writing up the fine.
The rally began at 1:00pm at Queen’s Square Park where 30 plus protesters enjoyed free food, soccer, Frisbee and speeches from refugees, organizers and activists. Protesters marched from Queen’s Square park to City Hall whilst being harassed by police along the way. Once at City Hall protesters were harassed by one of the Commissionaires, ranting about tourists, who then contacted police. "I get paid to keep people like you away from city hall for the tourists." The unidentified Commissionaire was very persistent with convincing the police to break up the rally.
After much discussion with the commissionaire police approached the crowd and demanded they disperse. Protesters explained to police that they were preparing to disperse. Once questioned about the validity of the command to disperse by one independent media journalist protesters were unlawfully arrested without having their rights read to them.
Photos of the event will follow soon. For more information about the event or Solidarity Across Borders please contact www.solidaityacrossborders.org or handsofnothing@yahoo.ca
# posted by Fredericton Solidarity Across Borders : 4:54 PM
Saturday, May 27, 2006
FREDERICTON POLICE FORCE TURNED VIOLENT TOWARDS PEACEFUL PROTESTERS!!!!
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12 comments:
Quite a difference between that and the other protest at the legislature. Anybody know who the 'commissionaire' is, and who those police officers are.
They were just doing their job.
that happened about 3 or so hours ago. I am friends with
Teresa one of the ones who were arrested.
I thought you might find this interesting.
"They were just doing their job" was the excuse for the soldiers in the Holocaust. Just doing your job is no excuse for committing an injustice and violating someones basic human right (as protected in the charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights). "They were just doing their job" is a dangerous fallacy to convince oneself of. We must keep a critical and watchful eye on agents of the state who hold the power to systematically violate our human rights.
"If you've been to jail for justice then you sure are a friend of mine!"
Good work people!
If that's their job they ought to get rid of the 'to protect and serve' motto.
You should have saw what happened behind closed doors.
There is always 3 sides to every story.
I think I will wait to hear what the police have to say and then I will up my own mind if there was "police brutality" or if the protesters didn't move along when they were told to.
"I will up my own mind if there was "police brutality" or if the protesters didn't move along when they were told to."
This is certainly a false dichotomy. EITHER the police were brutal OR the protesters refused to move along. Either the police were brutal or they were not. Refusing to "move along" is before the fact and certainly would not justify excessive use of force by the police. Judging by the photos one would think the protesters were a danger to the police or public. The only thing to justify the type of treatment Mr. Rashid received would be if he was assaulting the officer or someone else. This obviously is not the case as he is free now with a minor fine.
First, you'll note they weren't charged with anything. Whether a cop or not, you can't simply tell somebody to 'move along' for no reason.
But as we heard, the police simply said they can do what they want.
The aggressive nature of the police is always troubling, and has been documented many times before. Even more troubling is the fascist tendencies of society to violently keep down protest. When you aren't free to protest, you no longer live in a democratic, or civil society. To take Charle's phrase-that's 'Old Germany' all over again.
Being able to protest government is the foundation of every civil society, without that nothing separates you from dictatorship. You'll note the concern that "it looks bad for tourism".
Pictures don't lie, and facts don't lie. No doubt the police may not have uttered those words, but the effect is still the same-violently stopping people from exercising their civil right to protest.
I beg to differ.....pictures DO lie.
heh..man oh man is it ever easy to cry racism these days. Gotta love it when you have to run to the gleaner and cbc and cry about your "ribs" because you didn't listen to lawful authorities.
heh..man oh man is it ever easy to cry racism in our politically correct country these days. Gotta love it when you have to run to the gleaner and cbc and cry about your "ribs" because you didn't listen to lawful authorities.
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