Huh...where is the expectation of privacy if this filming of law enforcement takes place
in a public place by public officials performing their publicly funded duty? That just
seems so wrong, and in need of change in a big hurry.
Toronto cop accused of assaulting pastry-maker at G20
- Thread starter mentalfloss
- Start date
Huh...where is the expectation of privacy if this filming of law enforcement takes place
in a public place by public officials performing their publicly funded duty? That just
seems so wrong, and in need of change in a big hurry.
And people are souding off once again..
A public inquiry is what’s needed
It is futile to defend the indefensible in view of hospitalization, video evidence of protesters afflicted by the police, and continuous denials of same officers for repeated abuses. Civil rights abuse is not an aberration committed by a “bad apple” but the creation of an institutional dysfunction and corruption. Yet, to this date no one has been held accountable or is being punished for the initiation and implementation of such abuse of power and civil rights.
Neither the fragmented weak probes nor the present civilian review will help improve the future unless we correct the present. The only solution that will remedy this problem for future references is to initiate a public inquiry compelling evidence under oath and hold all players accountable with due punishment. Failing that, history will repeat itself under new inane justifications and evasive manoeuvres.
The G20 fiasco has been a travesty of justice and democracy, brought about by elected and appointed leaders who have been unreliable, irresponsible and ultimately untrustworthy.
Lela Gary, Toronto
Re: Someone has to pay for G20 travesty, Letter, June 6
I couldn't agree more with your letter writer’s sentiments. However, as a member of Toronto's black community and an activist against police brutality for many years, I am used to police officers getting away with the type of behaviour and brutality displayed during the G20 weekend.
The SIU and Toronto Police Service are acting true to form, playing the usual game of hide and seek — blaming each other. Unfortunately — for them — the complainants are white, some well-connected and their actions captured on tape. If they are not held accountable for this travesty, then there can be no pretense for the SIU — an organization that many in the black community marched and lobbied politicians for but which has failed my community miserably.
I am anxious to see how they will extricate themselves from this high-profile debacle.
June Veecock, Markham
I agree that there must be a full public inquiry into the events surrounding the civil rights abuses that occurred during the G20 meetings in Toronto. This would not be only to assign responsibility for those events, but also to understand how they came about in order to prevent similar events from recurring. Any inquiry must have the power to look at the roles of the various police involved, as well as all three levels of government, including Stephen Harper and other federal participants in the planning and execution of the G20. After all, it was an event of the federal government.
It is worth noting that although Harper voiced concern about the civil rights abuses occurring in Libya, to my knowledge he did not take a public stance and express concern about the abuses that happened in Toronto. Nor has he, to my knowledge, apologized to the many Canadians and others whose bodies and rights were abused.
Clarice Ondrack, Toronto
Allowing the G20 debacle “to fade away with no consequences” is an affront to a “just and free society.” If the authorities had initially instituted the War Measures Act or called for a curfew allowing for the arrest of anyone found walking south of Bloor St., I think there might have been a general outcry.
In effect, the security forces acted as if such measures were in place. Yet, because of the repeated images of burning cars and vandalism, too many people ignored salient facts, casually dismissed the abuse of civil rights, and now don’t care who was responsible.
I cringed every time someone said, “They shouldn’t have been down there.” “Down there” was a huge swath of the city where people live and work. I wasn’t “down there,” but I cherish my right to be “there.” We still need answers.
Linda Genova, Toronto
Some time ago I emailed our Prime Minister requesting a public inquiry into the G20 fallout. I received the response that my request had been forwarded to the Justice Ministry. Hearing nothing for a month and a half, I againemailed the PM with the same request and received the same response. As a result, I emailed the PM again suggesting that since he had sent my request to Justice, and since they had never responded, perhaps it would be in order for him to ask the minister in charge to respond. And that’s the last I heard of that! If Stephen Harper is serious about being PM of all Canadians, here’s a good place to start.
Morley S. Wolfe, Brampton
A public inquiry is what?s needed - thestar.com
A public inquiry is what’s needed
It is futile to defend the indefensible in view of hospitalization, video evidence of protesters afflicted by the police, and continuous denials of same officers for repeated abuses. Civil rights abuse is not an aberration committed by a “bad apple” but the creation of an institutional dysfunction and corruption. Yet, to this date no one has been held accountable or is being punished for the initiation and implementation of such abuse of power and civil rights.
Neither the fragmented weak probes nor the present civilian review will help improve the future unless we correct the present. The only solution that will remedy this problem for future references is to initiate a public inquiry compelling evidence under oath and hold all players accountable with due punishment. Failing that, history will repeat itself under new inane justifications and evasive manoeuvres.
The G20 fiasco has been a travesty of justice and democracy, brought about by elected and appointed leaders who have been unreliable, irresponsible and ultimately untrustworthy.
Lela Gary, Toronto
Re: Someone has to pay for G20 travesty, Letter, June 6
I couldn't agree more with your letter writer’s sentiments. However, as a member of Toronto's black community and an activist against police brutality for many years, I am used to police officers getting away with the type of behaviour and brutality displayed during the G20 weekend.
The SIU and Toronto Police Service are acting true to form, playing the usual game of hide and seek — blaming each other. Unfortunately — for them — the complainants are white, some well-connected and their actions captured on tape. If they are not held accountable for this travesty, then there can be no pretense for the SIU — an organization that many in the black community marched and lobbied politicians for but which has failed my community miserably.
I am anxious to see how they will extricate themselves from this high-profile debacle.
June Veecock, Markham
I agree that there must be a full public inquiry into the events surrounding the civil rights abuses that occurred during the G20 meetings in Toronto. This would not be only to assign responsibility for those events, but also to understand how they came about in order to prevent similar events from recurring. Any inquiry must have the power to look at the roles of the various police involved, as well as all three levels of government, including Stephen Harper and other federal participants in the planning and execution of the G20. After all, it was an event of the federal government.
It is worth noting that although Harper voiced concern about the civil rights abuses occurring in Libya, to my knowledge he did not take a public stance and express concern about the abuses that happened in Toronto. Nor has he, to my knowledge, apologized to the many Canadians and others whose bodies and rights were abused.
Clarice Ondrack, Toronto
Allowing the G20 debacle “to fade away with no consequences” is an affront to a “just and free society.” If the authorities had initially instituted the War Measures Act or called for a curfew allowing for the arrest of anyone found walking south of Bloor St., I think there might have been a general outcry.
In effect, the security forces acted as if such measures were in place. Yet, because of the repeated images of burning cars and vandalism, too many people ignored salient facts, casually dismissed the abuse of civil rights, and now don’t care who was responsible.
I cringed every time someone said, “They shouldn’t have been down there.” “Down there” was a huge swath of the city where people live and work. I wasn’t “down there,” but I cherish my right to be “there.” We still need answers.
Linda Genova, Toronto
Some time ago I emailed our Prime Minister requesting a public inquiry into the G20 fallout. I received the response that my request had been forwarded to the Justice Ministry. Hearing nothing for a month and a half, I againemailed the PM with the same request and received the same response. As a result, I emailed the PM again suggesting that since he had sent my request to Justice, and since they had never responded, perhaps it would be in order for him to ask the minister in charge to respond. And that’s the last I heard of that! If Stephen Harper is serious about being PM of all Canadians, here’s a good place to start.
Morley S. Wolfe, Brampton
A public inquiry is what?s needed - thestar.com
That may be the state law but I find it difficult to imagine that it would survive a constitutional challenge, so I'm assuming no one has.
Colpy is right this does need to move up the court ladder.