Citizens Panel on Policing and the Community
Hearing: February 21-2002
Presenter: Ria Heynen (Raging Grannies)
I attended the Vigil @ the Human Rights Monument on Friday November 16. It was meant to be an interfaith gathering, specifically to give Islamic students from Carleton U and Ottawa U a chance to express themselves. It was peaceful and inspiring, even when a group of young people arrived unexpectedly and started to dance.
I had just whispered the remark to my husband how impressed I was with the young organisers of this Vigil and with the many peaceful, beautiful young people attending the event, when some kind of a smoke bomb went off. I did not observe any disturbance that could lead to such action. The smoke quickly spread; we had to disperse. Thanks to the organisers there was no real panic, they called us together when the smoke disappeared, but it clearly was not a good idea to continue the gathering at the Monument. Suggestion was to continue @ Ottawa U.
So we linked arms, staying very close together for the safety of us all and singing our special songs.
We "snake-marched" though the streets, first passing rows and rows of police in full gear, then turning right somewhere to avoid the police.
The march continued, totally peaceful, without any vandalism. Our group was large so cars had to stop for us, but all went smoothiy.
I would like to conclude with some observations and share my feelings about this event.
1) It is difficult to understand how anyone -even the police- could be allowed to disrupt such a peaceful, meaningful and healing event. Even if there was something going on that needed police attention, it could have been done in a discreet manner.
2) In Quebec City I had been exposed to teargas, a gas which under the Geneva Convention has been forbidden to be used in wartime.(as far as I know!!) Although the exposure to the teargas was not a "fun experience", I would cover my face and was able to breathe.
I had a different experience at the Human Rights Monument. The smoke of this chemical choked me and I could not breathe. It frightened me. I feel we have a right to know exactly what the police used.
3) Once we had to march away from the Monument the police presence - in full gear, ready to ATTACK - was overpowering and threatening. Never before have I experienced such strong emotions. (and I have been in many demonstrations and marches in the last 25 years)
I felt ashamed being there, as if I was doing something delinquent. I felt I was doing something real "dirty", I felt like crying and screaming at the same time, to make them see for what reason we had come.
4) To me the police action could have provoked such anger that especially among the younger generation it COULD have resulted in acts of vandalism. Realising the violence our younger generation is exposed to through the different media, well, one does not have to be a psychologist to see that their perspective towards vandalism and violence is influenced by that. And I feel that we who belong to the older generation should really think about that.
If I -as a grandmother- even felt threatened and very frustrated, how much stronger effect on the teenagers this could have. But they all stayed peaceful that night. as well as the day after as far as I observed.
5) My experiences of the whole week-end of November 16-18 left me with a sad, depressed feeling, which took weeks to overcome. I had not been prepared for this.
Just a more or less unrelated remark:
Bill C36 is part of a new reality!!
This Bill has now legalised the police violence which I experienced.
It denies me the fundamental constitutional rights to peaceful protest
and assembly, one of the ways used to express my views and convictions.
Just one absurd example: I can be arrested without cause, held for 72 hours, then be released without charge!
But... because of this bill I realise better than ever before that I
should never stop with what I was doing,so I"ll protest and demonstrate
whenever the-need arises.
From Alma Norman
PRESENTATION TO CITIZEN’S PANEL FEBRUARY 21
GRANNIES SHOULD BE PRESENT AT SUCH MARCHES AND DEMONSTRATIONS, BOTH TO SUPPORT THE ANTI GLOBALIZATION/ANTI WAR MOVEMENT, AND TO ASSERT OUR CITIZENS RIGHT AND DUTY TO PROTEST PUBLICLY.
ALTHOUGH WE WERE NOT THE TARGETS OF POLICE VIOLENCE WE WITNESSED A NUMBER OF INSTANCES OF INTIMIDATION AND UNPROVOKED ATTACKS ON PROTESTORS BY THE POLICE. THESE HAVE BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED BY OTHERS WHO WERE MORE DIRECTLY INVOLVED BUT WE CAN WITNESS THAT SUCH ACTS DID IN FACT TAKE PLACE. FOR EXAMPLE, SEVERAL OF US SAW UNLEASHED POLICE DOGS ATTACKING PROTESTORS AND WITNESSED THEIR WOUNDS BEING TREATED BY THE MARCH’S MEDICS.
WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT WE SEE AN IMPORTANT ROLE THE GRANNIES IN FUTURE SUCH EVENTS FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:
BECAUSE WE ARE A GROUP OF OLDER WOMEN WE RE=EMPHASIZE THE ALL ENCOMPASSING NATURE OF THESE CONCERNS; THIS IS NOT A QUESTION OF YOUNG NAIVE RADICALS WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND THE "REAL WORLD"; MANY OF US HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH SIMILAR PROTEST ACTIONS FOR DECADES – SINCE THE BAN THE BOMB CAMPAIGN IN THE 60’S. WE ARE EXPERIENCED IN NON-VIOLENT PROTEST AND KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF STAYING IN FOR THE LONG HAUL;
: WHILE AVOIDING VIOLENT CONFRONTATIONS OURSELVES, WE SHOULD BE PRESENT AS WITNESSES TO VIOLENCE WHICH TAKES PLACE. MORE IMPORTANTLY EVEN, WE CAN AND SHOULD ACT TO DEFUSE POSSIBLE VIOLENCE. WE MIGHT TO THIS BY " FLOWING IN "TO SURROUND SOMEONE UNDER ATTACK THUS GIVING BOTH PROTESTORS AND POLICE A CHANCE TO COOL OFF ; EQUALLY WE MIGHT BE PREPARED TO SING NON-CONFRONTATIONAL SONGS WHEN WE SEE A TENSE SITUATION BUILDING ; INVOLVING A GROUP IN SINGING OFTEN DEFLECTS ENERGY AWAY FROM ANGRY ACTION. THIS DID IN FACT HAPPEN AT TIMES ON NOV. 20TH.
WE EMPHASIZE THAT WHILE WE OURSELVES WILL NOT RESORT TO VIOLENT TACTICS NOR ENCOURAGE THEM IN OTHERS, WE EQUALLY DEPLORE AND WILL RESIST VIOLENCE USED AGAINST OTHERS BY THE POLICE. SOME – THOUGH NOT ALL OF US – ARE PREPARED TO ACCEPT ARREST IF THAT IS THE PRICE OF PROTESTING OR PROTECTING OTHERS. BUT ALL OF US INSIST THAT WE CAN AND MUST EXERCISE OUR CITIZEN’S RIGHT TO PROTEST.
AS ONE OF OUR SONGS SAYS:
‘ try and put the lid on; try and shut us up
Pepper spray won’t do it; nothing makes us stop.
We’ve been around and we don’t scare
WE’RE HERE, WE’RE THERE. WE’RE EVERYWHERE
DON’T EVEN THINK TO GAG US
HERE COME THE RAGING GRANS.