CIVIL LIBERTIES

Toronto G20: one year later

by Amelia Murphy-Beaudoin

June 25 marks one year since the G20 in Toronto.

Protesters were rounded up in the largest mass arrest in Canadian history and subjected to state-sanctioned police brutality, even in the approved protest zone at Queen’s Park.

Most of the 1,105 people arrested had all charges dropped as police and courts were forced to admit to shoddy evidence and wrongful detentions. Still, over 50 people face G20-related charges.

Montreal activist Jaggi Singh will likely do jail time for conspiracy charges. The evidence against him is a taped interview where he stated the G20 fence should be taken down.

A class action lawsuit claiming $115 million in damages is expected to move forward in July. It encompasses over 1,100 people who participated in peaceful protest and were arrested, detained and/or charged.

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association organized public hearings on the G20 last year. This month the Police Services Board launched another set of hearings as part of an independent civilian review. The call continues for a full public inquiry into police actions at the G20.

We must continue to use this repression as an opportunity to build unity in denouncing the criminalization of dissent and the agenda of the G20.