Toronto G20: Information Central

Distribute far'n'wide: fantastic resource/reporting site, G20.justice. com. We badly need a central collection spot for all the info, stories, and videos flying about and this looks like it.

Intimidation. Assault. Humiliation. Sexual Assault. Threat. Bullying. Kidnapping. Lying. Break & Entering. Stealing. Pre-emptive Arrests. Illegal House Raids. Vandalism. Destroying Public Property. Illegal Detention. Illegal Arrests. Enciting Rioting.

What do the above have in common? If you were in downtown Toronto during the G20 Summit, then no explanation is needed. If you've only been watching mainstream media - then you more than likely haven't seen the exemplary performances of our country's finest.

With pages on Charter rights, official contact information, Criminal Code, 'Evidence' (an effort to document a timeline of events), personal stories, and 'Lineup' (an effort to identify security officers, vandals, and agents provocateurs behaving badly).

From the Lineup page a list of participating police forces and security companies.


RCMP

Toronto Police

Peel Regional Police

Ontario Provincial Police

JTF2

Barrie Police

Calgary Police

Dryden Police

Durham Regional Police

Edmonton Police

Halton Regional Police

Hamilton Police Service
Kenora Police

Kingston Police

Montreal Police

Niagara Regional Police

Ottawa Police Services (ESU)

Royal Newfoundland Police

Saskatoon Police
Sudbury Police

Waterloo Regional Police

York Police

Barrie Court Services

Toronto Court Services

Contemporary International

Group 4 Falck

InterCon Security / ADT

Securitas

Zow, that's a lotta cops and rent-a-cops. (Dryden cops needed a taste of big city lights?)

The people behind the site say they're volunteers and seem also to be members of the Facebook group Canadian Demanding a Public Inquiry into Toronto G20.

Great work! And, sadly, lots more work to do.

And it's a great place to send acquaintances who believe the msm and refuse to look further. Hey, Teach! This site's for you!

'You're not in Canada'

Cop actually says it.

Taking a walk on the Dark Side. . .

To see if/how the G20 insanity is still in play.

The story seems to have dropped off the radar at Blithering Tories (CC, we miss you), except for a little smirking over McGuilty's taking some heat from the left.

Different story at Free Dominion. There are three current threads on G20 policing. And while there is the expected 'club the dirty hippies like baby seals' stuff (somebody actually said that, not at the Freaks, but in the comments on a CBC story), there are some surprisingly sensible comments. Or, it could just be the group's proclivity for conspiracy theories and/or distrust of govmint.

In 'Police Provocateurs at all G8 Events', my pal Connie responds to Madrod.

Madrod: To my mind, the Toronto Police Chief has been trying to equate in peoples minds that legit protesters are in the same league as terrorists and anarchists.

Connie: So have a lot of people here.

In 'Black Bloc/Black Ops at the G20', they are speculating whether all or only some of the window-smashers and cop-car-torchers were cops.

Things get really heated in 'More T.O. Cops as Anarchists, Communists & Rapists'. There is some serious cop-bashing going on.

One poster quotes in full a letter sent to Mark Steyn, but I'll save you the click and do it too.

Mark, I live a few blocks from the mayhem we saw a few days ago in Toronto. I’m delighted the police finally clamped down on the criminals, but the optics of last Saturday were a disaster. After I watched on TV the outrageous vandalism of the criminals, with the police— vast hordes of them— standing by, I phoned the Toronto PD to lay a complaint about their astonishing stand down. From start to finish (five calls in about ten minutes) I was treated with the utmost contempt and unprofessionalism by “Toronto’s Finest”. My interactions were reasonable and courteous, though firm.

Here’s what happened:

1) I called; the officer gave me her badge number and said she had no idea about what was happening on the streets. I told her of burning police cruisers and violence, and she claimed to have no clue about this. I said I was very pro-police, but was appalled by their lack of action. I told the officer, who continued to claim ignorance of the situation, that this would be a PR disaster for the police. I then asked how I’d lay a complaint. I was given the phone number of the complaints department.

2) I called the number. The voice mail box, for a “Beverley Picard”, not identified as a police officer, was full. I phoned again. Same thing.

3) I called the number again. I did not get the badge number of the person who answered. I explained that I seemed to have a wrong number for the “complaints department”. Then, with no explanation offered to me for the number I’d been given, this person simply, electronically, passed me on to a line at 52 Division (police headquarters).

4) I repeated my support for the police and my complaint about them standing by while their own cruisers were on fire and vandals were openly damaging property with no arrests. “Oh no,” said the woman on the other end of the phone. “Yes, police cruisers are burning while the police watch,” I said. “OH NO,” said the woman on the line. I then said, “I get the impression that you’re not being serious here. I think, perhaps, you’re being sarcastic.” She hung up on me!

5) Back to the original number. Another officer answered and was sorry for my troubles. When I said I paid taxes to be “served and protected,” she said, “I pay taxes too.” She then informed me that my original contact didn’t exist. “Perhaps you wrote the badge number down incorrectly,” she suggested. In fact, this officer actually said there was no “complaints department” number, and that I should get in touch with my MP or with 52 Division in person after the G20 is over. (Right… as if I think dealing face to face with such do-nothings and ho-hum enablers would accomplish anything.)

6) I then tried Chief Blair’s phone number. The phone rang and rang. Then there was a click. Then there was the dial tone again...

“Toronto’s Finest”? My reasonable interaction with these people, with its multiple non-sequiturs and contradictions, leads me to think the police are cretins: it was like interacting with the Red Queen in Wonderland. Yes, the police were under pressure, but it seems that I, a concerned, supportive citizen, was given the royal dismissive run-around by these four seemingly unengaged women. So much for “To Serve and Protect”!

So this is the new, unimproved way our society deals with thugs and bullies in all public places: make things safe for the bullies. Figuratively declaw and demean all competent adults responsible for the well being of the well behaved, while pussy-footing around in order to protect the rights of the bad guy. The rights of the good guys? You must be joking!

(name withheld)
Toronto, Ontario

Also from comments at CBC, a former staunch supporter of police said s/he started to change her/his mind over the Robert Dziekanski case and that recent events have sealed the deal.

So. Is another front developing in our ongoing campaign to Divide the Right? This time a schism between lawnorder (as JJ styles it) cons and libertarian cons?

We at DJ! will try our darnedest to help.

Of course, cops will always have their groupies. For a giggle, check out the Support for the TPS and G20 Security Officers Facebook group, with at last peek 2268 members.

In contrast, the FB group demanding a public inquiry will hit 39,000 members pretty soon, probably within the hour.

Harper Giveth - And Taketh Away.

MONTREAL - Federal Heritage Minister James Moore came to Montreal on Friday to play Santa, announcing that the greater Montreal area is the recipient of $20.2 million in arts and culture spending to be spread among 111 arts, heritage and community projects.

The announcement was made during the Montreal International Jazz Festival, not coincidentally one of the two largest beneficiaries.

From here. In addition, Moore delivered the following message:

« Le gouvernement Harper tenait à donner ce fort appui à la culture parce que c'est important pour notre économie,» a dit James Moore.

The Harper government is giving this support to culture because it's important for our economy.

The Harper government. This timely largesse fits the PMO's Message Event Proposal template perfectly.

An MEP template typically includes the following subtitles: Event, Event type, Desired headline, Key messages, Media lines, Strategic objectives, Desired soundbite, Ideal speaking backdrop, Ideal event photograph, Tone, Attire, Rollout materials, Background, and Strategic considerations.

One doesn't need to be a communications expert to grasp the explicit message in Moore's media stunt.

Montréal: good. Toronto: bad.

As for the "desired soundbite", did Stevie's stooge slip up - or not - when he got that 'Harper government' key phrasing in there?

In Stevie Spiteful's and his bullies/boot-lickers' universe, the choices and preferences are clear. Individuals are for him or against him.

And just so one doesn't forget what the ReformaTories' base actually think about culture, let's watch the brilliant Culture en péril again, shall we?



For those curious about the content of Santa Moore's bag of goodies, here's the list. More about Harper's government use of MEPs, here.

Grand merci for the graphic, found in Amanda Woodward's gallery.

Revealed: Why Democracy in Canada Is in the Crapper

As I said when I blogged about the cash intended for frail friend returned by Canada Post, I gotta share this.

Also, it involves one of the members of the frail friend's support group.

A few days ago, a gang email went out to inform us of a change in status for our friend. Normally, I'd just reply to the sender individually, but with Toronto under seige and friend being from Toronto along with many of his now-faraway friends and family, I hit 'reply all' after adding this to my response to the sender:

I’m being a bit of brat in replying to all. But Torontonians certainly know and the rest of you probably heard of the police state Harper turned Toronto into over the past few weeks and of the shocking brutality and idiocy of the past weekend.

We can’t let them get away with this.

There is a Facebook group (I know, I know) demanding there be an independent inquiry into the whole mess. It’s growing like mad, over 25,000 members in two days.

But even more important is to sign the petition also demanding an inquiry at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.

Bonus: Read what the usually 'law and order/hang 'em high' Toronto Sun has to say.

And please pass these links along to right-thinking people.

Thanks,
fern hill

There are about ten of us. Two of them I consider close friends, others casual friends, two or three barely acquaintances.

As with anything like this, I thought maybe a couple would act on it, a couple more would mean to but forget, the rest would ignore it and maybe a couple of those would be irritated at my presumption. Oh well.

One responded promptly with 'done and done', but then she's a good union gal.

I was not expecting the reply I got last night from one of the bare acquaintances. Here it is unedited:

Hi fern hill,

I probably should`nt reply to this e-mail, as my reply does not support your view.To me your response is both immature ( the kind of reaction I expect from my teenage students ) and one that ignores the stupid and irresponsible acts of vandalism that occurred Saturday in Toronto.
While I do not support the Polices behaviour on Sunday, I was appalled at the images I saw on t.V. Saturday night. I think maybe the Police where too patient and passive during these events ( burning Police cars and windows beening broken ).
I hope you do not support all this damage done by a bunch of reckless young people who wanted to stick it to the MAN!!!! We are the men and women that will have to pay for the clean up. For me ( as an x-Torontoian ) I was embrassed (not by the Police ) but by the ignorant Thugs that took away all focus real protestors with valid concerns
deserved. My Toronto ( I lived there for 25 years ) was belittled by these pathetic acts of defiance.
I am not sure you really understand the responsibility Toronto had to protect all the dignitaries involved in the Summit.I agree that a bit of a Police State existed during the Summit, however there was no serious incident inside the fence. As the host City we had a HUGE responsibilty to protect all those involved in the summit and keep them safe.
While the building of a fence around the Summit Site was offensive to many, the shooting or bombing of visiting leaders would have been far more disturbing to me, then a few days where my personal movement was comprimised. As a teacher I deal with choosing between protecting my students ( and maintaining order ) and allowing them to express themselves . Sometimes, personal freedom has to give way to the security of the group as a whole.
While I do not condone what went on in Toronto last weekend, I do understand why the Police did what they did. Demanding an inquiry is foolish and a waste of money. That money should go to the shop owners who had windows broken and other individuals who suffered damaged they can not afford to absorb.Wasting money on yet another costly and in the end ineffectual inquiry is something I can not believe an intelligent person would suggest.
I hate to say it fern hill but you need to get out into the real world.Only those terribly oppressed or living in a vacumn would support such a petition, Name

I was stunned. I was at sweetie's last night after the Queen's Park protest and he was stunned too. We talked for hours last night about it, asking deep questions like 'WTF????'

I just replied.

Name,
Wow. I haven’t been lectured to by a sanctimonious yet screechingly ignorant highschool teacher in decades. Great fun was had by both sweetie and me with your missive. We particularly enjoyed the many spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.

My mistake was in thinking that friends and supporters of [frail friend] would also be friends and supporters of civil rights, democracy, and justice.

My bad.

I did think, however, that if recipients were doubtful but interested they might accept the premise from [frail friend]'s friend that something bad had happened and at least check out the column I linked to at that radically leftwing rag, The Toronto Sun.

I find it sad that you preferred to use your time lecturing me rather than informing yourself.

I am an activist* and citizen journalist**. I was at the protests, including the Canada Day one yesterday. I have been following closely the anti-democratic crusade of Harper and the ReformaTories for years and especially the transformation of my city into a fortress over the past month.

You are a middle-class school teacher being spoonfed sound-bites from the corporate media. In Hicktown, Ontario.

Fine. While you exemplify part of what’s wrong with democracy in this country, you are entitled to your own opinion.

You are not, however, entitled to your own facts.

The largest mass arrest in Canadian history occurred in Toronto over the weekend. Larger by far than arrests made under the War Measures Act during the October Crisis — you know, that period when real terrorists were really kidnapping and killing real people.

The police were ordered ‘not to engage’ with the 75-100 vandals on Saturday, but no one knows by whom. Contrary to the Police Services Act, police cars were abandoned, perhaps to serve as irresistible targets. There are credible reports — though not yet proven as at Montebello — that police officers acted as agents provocateurs. (I’d put links in, but why bother when you won’t read them?)

The next day the police went on a rampage of their own — beating and arresting peaceful protesters, reporters, and passers-by. Did you catch Steve Paikin of TVO giving his eye-witness account of the beating of a reporter from The Guardian? I think that was on television. There’s rivetting video of about 200 people corralled in a tactic called ‘kettling’ for four hours in bucketing rain at Spadina and Queen. That video has not appeared on television. Yet.

Their stories are coming out, even though we don’t know how many people remain in jail.

And then there are the many lies from police brass. The secret new law that didn’t exist. The weapons confiscated from protesters, except most of them weren’t weapons, and the most weapon-like items did not come from protesters. The cortege for the fallen soldier that was disrupted by protesters except it wasn’t. Again, I’d offer links but what the hell for?

Civil rights were trampled. The tax-paying citizens were lied to. Police neglected their duty. An entire city was placed under martial law.

And many of us would like some accounting for this insanity.

I hate to say it, Name, but you are an ignorant, sanctimonious cunt***, who should get out more and stop watching television. In Hicktown, Ontario.

But hey, I’ll stand up for your rights anyway, even if you don’t value them.

And, since I can’t imagine either of us having anything further to say to the other, I’d appreciate it if you’d delete my name from your address book, as I will yours.

I pity your students.

fern hill

Sad, innit?


* bit of exaggeration but I do get my butt out to protests and rallies
** I hate 'citizen journalist' but 'blogger' didn't have the required gravitas
*** yes, I went there

Octo-Pop Gibson threatens "honour killing".

Given Mel's religious proclivities, facts emerging from his rancorous child-custody and legal battles with Oksana Grigorieva are neither shocking nor surprising. He's a violent gynophobe as well as as well as a sexist, anti-semitic and racist man.

It's being reported that his hate-fuelled rants were unleashed during fights with his ex, as their relationship unraveled.

"You're an embarrassment to me," Mel tells her at one point. "You look like a f***ing pig in heat, and if you get raped by a pack of n***ers, it will be your fault."

Mel's profane outbursts are littered with references to Oksana being a "whore" and "c**t".

In another tirade, Mel tells Oksana: "How dare you act like such a bitch when I have been so f**king nice." He warns, "I am going to come and burn the f**king house down... but you will blow me first."

Grigorieva claims she made tapes of his outbursts after he uttered death threats and became physically abusive towards her.

I guess she refused to dress modestly in accordance with the precepts of Gibson's traditionalist catholic church - with her head covered and wearing only ankle-length skirts, never pants.

How likely would it be, were Gibson to kill Grigorieva - as legal documents have documented that he has threatened to do - her murder'd be headlined as an "honour killing"?

"Spectacular claims have emerged ..."

And none more spectacular than the sob story Toronto Police Chief Bill 'Five Metres of BS' Blair gave Christie Blatchford in an Exclusive interview. The sound you hear as you read the piece is that of Blatchie's panties sliding to the floor.

In a MASSIVE attempt to cover his derrière, Blair agonizes over a now-emerging propaganda "revelation" that generic Blak Blok anarkists derailed the arrival of a Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan at the coroner's office.

The final chapter of the repatriation for Sergeant Jimmy MacNeil last Friday had to be cut short outside the coroner’s office in Toronto when Black Bloc anarchists tried to break through police lines to attack.

The revelation came during an hour-long interview Wednesday with Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair, during which he also confessed he is worried about how the events of last weekend may have affected the “public trust” the force must have with its citizens.

At the time the cortège carrying Sgt. MacNeil’s body was arriving at the coroner’s office on Grosvenor Street, just two short blocks north of College Street, a group of about 30 demonstrators dressed in black moved out of a crowd of 2,000 who had massed in front of police headquarters on College.

“The Black Bloc was here and they charged up the thing [laneway], as a matter of fact the repatriation was kind of interrupted,” Chief Blair said. “My public order guys ran through the lines that we had to close off the alley that they were trying to get up [to Grosvenor] with.”

Further on in the Globe & Mail piece, 'I luvs me a MAN in uniform' Blatchford claims this "revelation" was only "mentioned" in the context of an answer about the "temporary regulation designating the area of the G20 Summit as a place where the Public Works Protection Act would apply".

What-evah, Christie. Perhaps you are dazzled by Chief Blair's charms, but those of us - who are not swooning to our knees in his presence - suspect his strategically timed interview with you is all part and parcel of a furious attempt of revisionism and retroactive justification.

Bonus: Go read Alison at Creekside - G20 : Cops avenge themselves on satirist

What the media ignored

Because I want a copy here.

By the way, membership Canadians Demanding an Independent Inquiry into Toronto G20 is now over 31,000.

Authoritarian WIN!

Honest to Gord, somedays I despair.

The majority of Torontonians believe police actions against G20 protesters were justified, according to a new poll.

The Angus Reid poll, which surveyed 1,003 Canadians and 503 Torontonians, found that 73 per cent of Torontonians and two-thirds of Canadians believe police treatment of protesters was justified during the G20 summit.

It's true. We get the fucking government we deserve.


ADDED: There's something wrong with Blogger. I just approved 3 comments -- from Brian, Kateland, and Chet -- and they disappeared. Grrrrrr. They were good too. Hopeful, even.

OY: So, Chet's and Kateland's show up. Brian is still missing and one I just approved from Dave doesn't appear. I'm beginning to get a little paranoid.

I GIVE UP: Comments seem to be taking a side trip to Huntsville before appearing.