Subject: letter to authorities, to share!

Mr. Bevan, Chief of Police;
Mrs. Sue O'Sullivan, Deputy Chief of Police;
Mrs. Wendy Fedek, Ex.director, Police Services Board;
Mr. Chiarelli, Mayor;
all citizens of our beloved Ottawa, Canada and world,

Hi!

I am choosing to write to you today to share what I witnessed during the demonstration our Ottawa streets this November 17, 2001.

I will present to you the people who participated in this rally and the reasons, the profound beliefs that brought them together to prostest. I will then give you a description of the events, the violence that we lived and end with questions and recommendations that would allow all of us to really serve and protect (before, during and after the demonstrations, I was so very aware that all of us hold the same values at heart: justice, peace, dignity of all: mayor, police chief, police officers, demonstrators) not just a few but all citizens, young and old, disabled and able bodied, rich and poor.

I do pray that all of us will enter in a dialogue, allow ourselves to be questioned, allow ourselves to deeply listen, recognize faults, change, heal, dialogue some more and work together to build a better Ottawa, world.

People rallied at various "points reperes" in Ottawa and Hull. I joined a lively group on the Lebreton flats around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17.

My brother Denis came. He is an excellent teacher, a father of eleven (he adopted children from around the world). There you also found Danielle (social worker, will receive Order of Ontario because she invested 20 and more years to create 3 homes and workplace that integrate individuals with multiple disablilities/different abilities in our community). Ramin was there. He is a Canadian, an extraordinary computer programmer with roots in Iran and China (Hong Kong). Paul came with 2 friends. He is an actor and caregiver to folks who are dressed with disabilites. Karin, mother and nurse works daily at protecting our health services. Lorna, mother, computer genius, healer, works with Holy Cross parish/community to help communities in Nicaragua, South Africa and Zimbabwe. I am a teacher, social worker, on a sabbatical doing international development work in Nicaragua.

We met grandmothers, youth, parents with children, ministers, priests, people from all walks of life who left their comfortable homes to brave the cold weather on our streets. Madam, sirs, we are the people who were demonstrating on Friday and Saturday!

Banners, posters, hats, t-shirts, pins, speeches, silence and presence announced clearly our peaceful intentions:

1)JUSTICE. We desire for a just world where all the "goods/resources" will be shared equally amongst all. In all of creation, this is written - in our bodies, sharing; -in our famillies (be they North American, Russian, Afghanistan, ...), sharing; -in nature and universe, sharing. It is also written in the hearts of all human beings (we just fail so often to listen to this deep and quiet voice)!

Madam, sirs, you must believe/trust that some people (people who demonstrated) care so deeply about their world, its inhabitants that they will write, phone, demonstrate, even risk their health, their lives to announce these values, to denounce the fact that a few eat more than their fair share and that because of our overindulging many are dying.

We deeply believe in the dignity and value of each human being, especially the ones that disagree, especially the ones that demonstrate! Their voice is needed, their presence amongst us a gift. They must honored as we Canadians have honored Nelson Mandela who protested so often on the streets of South Africa because he believed in the equality of all! Justice, honor, dignity, equality were the words written in our hearts, bodies and souls when we journeyed through our Ottawa streets.

In our eyes, soul, people are worth more than money and power!

2)PEACE. We were dressed with our mits, hats, warm clothes, banners, smiles and peace. Since the birthing of these demonstrations, the organisers, participants had/have one common tool: non-violence (of Ghandi, King, Mother Theresa, our different prophets). For us violence is a sign of weakness! All who were arrested, pushed/shoved, hit, bit, searched, yelled at, rifled at were consoled, surrounded/circled and reminded of our purpose, of our non-violent ways.

I was particularly proud of grandmothers who participated in the demonstration. On more than one occasion, they stepped between figures of authority who were being violent, and the victims, difusing the aggression, inviting all to move along. Everything will be all right announced our elders. They risked being seriously hurt, servant-leaders, protectors! Peace, at all cost!

I would really appreciate them being honored during an investigation, a dialogue, anywhere, anytime.

On the Lebreton flats, many wise speeches then practical info on toilets, food, route for demonstration and final reminder of necessity of peaceful walk.

Our journey began. North on Booth Street. It's slow then a dead stop. At the corner of Booth and Albert, where we were making a left turn, police are blocking the way. They have stopped a pocket of young people participating in the day's activities. Some organisers tried to dialogue, act as a buffer and were immediately arrested.

Saddened, we walked on. Deeply convinced that this was a unique incident, that one and all were nervous, fearful and therefore overreacted. In our minds, questions started arising though. Why the dogs? Why the riot gear? Why the machine guns? Why the tear gas rifles?

We turned right on Bronson Street then left of Laurier Street. We had gone past the community gardens on the corner and walking along the fence and grounds of the abondoned high school when a youth who came too close to a police "row/cordon/line officers on norht side of street" was hit to the ground by one officer (no i.d. so can't give you more info). Oh, my god! I went in his direction, so did 3 grandmas.

In seconds, a dog was biting his right leg at the ankle. His pants went down. A second dog start biting his right leg and foot. A scared enraged officer pointed his tear gas rifle at the head of this kid and yelled: " Get away from here!"

His pants were down, two dogs biting so he couldn't follow these orders. The officer was doing his damnned bestt to remove the animal from the wounded protester's leg. The officer on the right did nothing to restrain the huge dog at his leash. He didn't even pull on it. I removed this second dog and with the 3 grandmothers slowly pulled the bleeding kid away from this volatile situation. At this point, his pants were down to his ankles. He was attended by a medic on other side of the street.

At this point, many people were crying - afraid! Our streets were not safe and it wasn't because of our presence, our demonstration.

A few of us invited folks to keep on walking. Protect your people, protect the grandmothers, mothers, children, surround them if necessary! Be alert! Be vigilant! Remember peace at all cost! No violence! Protect yourself, protect one another! It's going to be all right!

A reporter approached the officers to question/understand. these acts of violence. She too lived these barked verbal abuse! Most of us invited her to move away fearing for her safety which she did!

Our authority, police, protectors, afraid, confused were violent! With that gear, weapons, dogs, all that powerful stuff they were treating us like dirt, yelling at respectful elders.

Instead of dividing us, people became more united. Heads were higher, watching for self and others. A few minutes of calm then a man (25, 30 years of age)walking on the north side of the street was biten by yet another police dog. The officer pulled the away. The young man unable to see any identification, asked the officer at the end of the leash if he could have his name, badge number to report the incident.

The officer addressed with this simple request, pointed finger in his face and started yelling: "Move on!" The young man again requestted i.d. Two other officers jumped in and the threesome barked at him in a chorus!

All were afraid for his safety, our safety! Two of us invited the fellow to come with us and talked him down. I gifted him a shawl that an Afghanistan refugee woman had just created a few days before. We must live a peaceful protest even if it hurts. He cried and walked proudly with the shawl on his back. Women, men united, hurt, belittled yet desiring a peaceful street, a peaceful city, a peaceful world.

The police with all their weaponry, all their image of power were bit by bit LOOSING all moral authority! I am proud of this man who let go of his hurt and pride and walked on to deliver a greater truth. We are a people with dignity, a people of justice,a peaceful people, a loving people. Today, our servants, our protectors were perpetrating works of violence! Who had taught them these lessons? Who had guided in these ways? Most of them were young men. I know that they didn't choose a career as a police officer to do this. Serve and protect!

Think, young one. You don't have to do this! You must not do this! You can refuse to participate in any act of violence if it is against your beliefs (and I hope it is if you are a police person)! You can drop your weapons and join vulnerable grannies on a Saturday walk on Ottawa streets! You could be my son, my nephew, my student. Maybe I was your teacher!

When I was training to be a Governor General footguard (to raise money to go to teacher's college), they showed us how to do crowd control in case of a demonstration. OK. When they suggested putting bayonnets at the end of our rifle and advance on the imaginary crowds, I refused. Forty others joined me. We knew that the protestors would have been our people, family, friends, folks who believed deeply in something. Our leaders sat us in the hot July sun to help us change our minds, suggested many more days in military jail. We accepted the consequences, refusing to participate! We lost a lot! We were ridiculed, sissied! We gained our freedom, our uniqueness, our humanity, our dignity!

Do resist to the temptation to be powerful! Otherwise, you will loose your soul! Why are you so afraid of me, of us? Who misinformed them about our intentions? How can we get together and talk so the truth surface?

At this point, we were inviting our more vulnerable demonstrators to go home but they couldn't because all the side streets were blocked with "armies" of policepeople.

Carefully, full of care we zizzagued our way to the Supreme Court grounds where demonstrators from the north, east, west met. More life-giving speeches from Canadians and world citizens inviting us to simply, daily in our homes and on the streets, build a better world.

Then made our way to Rideau street. Others chose to approach the G-20 meeting sites from the other side.

We sang, danced, distributed flyers, celebrated the day, the hurt, the peace, the victory. On our side, a few young people gently climbed over the metal barricades, crossed over,were promptly arrested and taken away. I don't know what happened on the other side but all protesters on the east side lived their day, words and actions with much dignity, honour. Thanks to all of them!

When people (4 or 5) crossed over and were arrested, an "army" of officers advanced in our direction banging their batons/sticks on their shields loudly! It wasn't sure if they would stop at the barrier or come on the mall side and start arresting people. So much show of exterior strength, power or was it weakness and insecurity! Why?

At this point, we all turned our backs to them and keep on singing, dancing! Peacefully!

The event ended peacefully with folks going for a hot drink, meal to diminish the cold feeling accumulated in their bodies and souls.

Forty or more people arrested appeared in court the next day. I don't know how many people were hurt! For sure a trust has been broken! Our leaders, protectors turned against us! A kind of shame replaced pride! There needs to be an inquiry, meetings (healing circles as our wise Native elders call them, also new retributive justice) to talk face to face, to rebuild that trust/relationship.

I include some questions, some recommendations. Do send me information when and where these will be addressed at following e-mail because I will be returning to international development volunteer work in Nicaragua on Dec. 6! Thank you!

1) DOGS. Why did you have so many police dogs on the front lines during a peaceful demonstrations? Why were these animals so excitable, unmanageable? (I am not a dog trainer but the guard dog we have at the farm in Nicaragua would never attack even culprit like the numerous dogs did at the rally). Why did they attack so many innocent people without any reasons whatesoever?

Who trained these dogs? Who trained the "trainers", officers holding (attempting to hold, give directions to) the dogs? Had the dog and trainers worked together before they appeared at the protest?

Why were they used? Serve and protect? Who? Did you achieve your purpose? Were they useful? Will you use them again?

It seemed as the dogs were in control, not the officers. Most of us felt we could be attacked, seriously hurt because we were present, walking on our Ottawa streets!

RECOMMENDATION

I would suggest thant no dogs be used at peaceful demonstrations!

If ever they are used, they should:

-be well trained and tested by accountable trainer; -be working with long term police officer/partner that has control on the actions of the dog and not the reverse; -not be on the front lines. They should only be used as back up, only after a commander gives order for their use!

2) RIOT-GEAR, MACHINE GUNS, TEAR GAS RIFLES.

Overwhelming! If you use such a show of force (a desire of have an image of control, being no.1), it shows that you are afraid of something, that you didn't know the gentle responsable people who were walking on this march! You break a trust, build a wall and loose all moral authority.

The young fearful officers who pointed tear-gas rifle at the head of the kid on Laurier street must know that a rifle pointed at a head maims, disables, kills. Maybe this kid wanted to become a police officer. Never!

A machine gun multiplies the hurt, the deaths. Put them down or one day in a rally, just because you are afraid or nervous you will aim and shoot me, one of us, real people!

Riot gear creates a wall, a distance. It says: "I am in control! I know! I am on the right side! You are wrong, bad!"

I saw in your eyes that you were afraid! I am 47, working a farm in Nicaraguan to feed malnourished children, elders. I was a volunteer probation officer in Ottawa. Maybe I helped you? Maybe I was your teacher? Maybe I brought you canoeing in Algonquin Park? Who are you? Why are you doing this? Who are you listening to?

RECOMMENDATIONS

Use as a front line in a protest, regular police people/officers in regular uniforms with name, identification.

Use unifying tactics (not us and them). I believe we are all in this together trying to build a better world.

Respect people! All protesters when met face to face would be folks very similar to Terry Fox, one of our national heroes. It is important to respect them, not hurt, dirty them or names!

Cameras used to catch all of us protesters in action will shed some light on a lot of violence on the part of the police force/weakness. Use those tapes and if you find someone (protesters or police officers), breaking the law, please, yes please, bring them to court. Be honest!

DON'T USE WEAPONS AGAINST YOUR CITIZENS.

DON'T EVER USE MACHINE GUNS IN A PEACEFUL PROTEST! YOU ARE ESCALATING THIS TO A WAR!

This "paraphanalia-?" a backup (not front line) and only used if a wise senior officer requests it use when real violence erupts.

We must remember that as a mayor, police personnel, teacher, mother, we have one thing in common to serve and protect our people. We are not elected, chosen to be at war with vulnerable citizens who chose to demonstrate on our Ottawa streets. KNOW THAT NELSON MANDELA DID EXACTLY THAT (DEMONSTRATE) IN HIS BELOVED SOUTH AFRICA, MANY TIMES IN HIS LIFE AND WE JUST DECORATED HIM WITH OUR CITIZENSHIP! Why not honour us the protestors with dignity and value? It would work to your advantage.

3) TRAINING

I am not sure where the people on the police line came from. Were they temporary officers with temporary training? Were they all from Ottawa Police Force or were they borrowed from other forces, the army? Are they accountable for their actions? Which leader is accountable for violents acts against the people and is he/she , are they willing to sit down, face the actions and the hurts, the people that were humiliated? Where and when?

RECOMMENDATIONS

When training focus on desire and need to serve and protect. The people present during the march were either afraid, confused, power hungry but were not servant, were not protectors. I must admit I was ashamed of them!

When they become police officers, they are empowered with a very special authority. This should be re-visited and evaluated regularly because the sacredness. If they use and abuse this authority, they will dirty the name of all the police force.

Police people/officers should be proud of who they are, their identity, their actions. They MUST wear an i.d. at all times.

For a special event, demonstrations, messages should be clear who is in charge, which actions are acceptable and which are not, who is accountable, that no abuse of authority will be accepted otherwise we are inviting Somalia types of abuse by individuals who are not healthy and capable of such empowerment!

4) INQUIRY, MEETINGS/HEALLING CIRCLES

The circle, trust has been broken. We should all find, search creative ways to rebuild healthy relationships.

RECOMMENDATIONS

An immediate inquiry into police actions of Nov. 17!

Find ways to find and stop individuals who enter demonstrations solely to destroy and harm people and property.

Organize community meetings to dialogue/talk and enter healing process. These rallies will happen again! How will we live them respectfully, peacefully?

It's been a long belated letter.

I do believe that there should be no more war in Afghanistan, sharing of world's wealth amongst all, empowered men and women in authority that serve and protect their fellow citizens with all the god-given respect they deserve!

Peace, Normand Pellerin