What do you do when citizens believe that democratic rights should be more than an illusion? Call in the authorities to remind them of their true place in the foodchain. On a related topic, The Star’s Rosie DiManno has an excoriating assessment of yet another free pass given by the
Continue readingTag: g20 police abuses
Politics and its Discontents: The Wheels of G20 Justice Move Very Slowly
Although I have written countless posts about the abrogation of charter rights and myriad instances of police brutality that occured in Toronto during the infamous G20 weekend in 2010, the story never seems to be over. This past week saw one officer acquitted in the assault of Dorian Barton; Glenn
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Insular World Of The Police Mentality
I have written several posts in this blog about institutions and their many shortcomings, shortcomings that seem directly proportional to their age. The longer one exists, the more prone an organization seems to becoming increasingly insular, self-referential, and self-reverential. One of the institutions most frequently targeted here is law enforcement.
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: From A Star Reader
My sentiments exactly, Steve: Re: A G20 cop’s close call, Aug. 10 I am a 59-year-old middle-class law-abiding person. That said, I cannot help but remark on the juxtaposition of the description of George Horton’s “crimes” with the picture of police activity during the G20. Horton is accused of wearing
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Two ‘Politicians’ Speak
Now frequently the new last refuge of the scoundrel, the passive voice is very popular with politicians far and wide, even if they don’t hold elected office. In response to a comprehensive report by retired judge John Morden on the police brutality and abuses of Charter Rights committed during the
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Enablers Of The G20 Abuses: The Police Services Board
The following is a brief excerpt from a comprehensive report by retired judge John Morden on the police brutality and abuses of Charter Rights committed during the June 2010 G20 Summit in Toronto. In it, he addresses the failure of the Toronto Police Services Board, headed by Alok Mukherjee: “The
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Apparently, Talk Of Charter Rights Is Just Nonsense
“Guys are talking nonsense and he got nonsense back.” – Sgt. Mark Charlebois in defense of his denial of Paul Figueiras’s Charter Rights during Toronto 2010 G20 Summit. Unfortunately, Sgt. Charlebois is not the only one who feels that our Charter Rights are a risible matter. As reported in today’s
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Star Reader’s Thoughts On G20 Justice
As a reader of various progressive bloggers, I know that the thirst for justice and accountability burns strongly in Canada. The only problem, of course, is that this passion seems singularly absent in those who occupy positions of authority, be they our elected ‘representatives’, heads of various organizations, and, of
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Christopher Hume on the G20
With a broad range of targets in his column today, including Dalton McGuinty, Harper, Tony Clement and Julian Fantino as additional architects of the 20120 G20 debacle in Toronto, the Star’s Christopher joins in the chorus of those calling for the resignation of Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair. Of course,
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Deny, Deny. Deny
In the strange parallel world inhabited by Toronto Police chief Bill Blair, that seems to be the rule governing administrative oversight. When confronted with an authoritative and damning report on the behaviour of your officers, both frontline and senior, attempt to deal with its implications by refusing to apologize for
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Accentuating The Positive
Perhaps he is a student of Norman Vincent Peale. Perhaps he believes that when you are handed lemons, you make lemonade. Perhaps he prefers to see the glass as half-full, not half-empty. Or perhaps he is just a politician intent on covering his professional rear end. Whatever he is, Toronto
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Stating The Obvious
While this report from The Office of the Independent Police Review may afford some satisfaction for confirming the obvious, the fact that there were no consequences to the police and Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair for being key parts of this orchestrated violation of our Charter Rights renders it pretty
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Police Chief Bill Blair Well-Rebuked
Oh, there is much in the news today to report and comment on, but I’ll start with something close to my heart: Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair, whom I regard as an unindicted co-conspirator in the police violence that erupted during peaceful protests at the 2010 G20 Summit in Toronto.
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: More G20 Police Brutality Justice Pending
One of the Toronto police officers identified in the G20 beating of Adam Nobody has now been identified in another incident occurring the same weekend. Const. Oliver Simpson’s employer, the Toronto Police Services Board, is being sued by Nikos Kapetaneas and Caitlin Morgan for the injuries they sustained at the
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Little More G20 Justice
In one of the more despicable acts of police brutality during the G20 Summit in Toronto in June of 2010, a paraplegic man, Gabriel Jacobs, was “dragged” from his motorized wheelchair, thrown into the back of a police cruiser and left on the floor of a temporary G20 detention centre
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: G20 Toronto Police Not Paid for Overtime?
Perhaps next time they will be more selective about the number of law-abiding citizens against whom they wield their batons and arrest. Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: More On Toronto G20 Incarceration Conditions
As human beings, there is really no way that we can dispute our deeply-flawed natures. Overlooking the terrible depths to which we can sink, the unspeakable cruelties each of us is capable of, and seeking to justify or rationalize away those shortcomi…
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Toronto G20 and the Vindication of Michael Puddy
Kafkaesque is a term loosely and regularly bandied about, usually denoting a process whereby an innocent person is subjected to unfathomable persecution/arrest. It seems an apt word to describe what Michael Puddy endured in Toronto during the G20 prot…
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Has This NYPD Officer Been Watching Video of Toronto’s G20?
You decide.Please sign this petition urging Prime Minister Harper to stop threatening Michaela Keyserlingk and to stop exporting asbestos.Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Chief Bill Blair’s Gambit
It is difficult to know exactly what the repercussions will be for Chief Bill Blair, who attempted to go over the heads of his civilian overseers, the Toronto Police Services Board, and appeal directly to Mayor Rob/Doug Ford in trying to stop the manda…
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