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COP ATTACK PROMPTS CALLS FOR CIVILIAN CONTROL
People's Voice Toronto Bureau
(This article is from the May 16-31/2000 issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $25/year, or $12 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $25 US per year; other overseas readers - $25 US or $35 CDN per year. Send to: People's Voice, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, Canada, V5L 3J1.)
TORONTO - The unprovoked attack by Toronto police on a peaceful rally has prompted new calls for stronger civilian control over the force. The April 21 rally was organised to show solidarity with protesters arrested at the anti-IMF demonstrations in Washington. Police guided the peaceful march down a sidestreet and then used force to disperse the 150 participants. One protester was pepper sprayed and four were arrested, three of whom have been charged with assaulting a "peace" officer.
One of those charged commented that, "it seems that since the anti-APEC protests in Vancouver, the police forces have been more and more willing to use pepper spray to disperse people. It's like the whole inquiry thing is meaningless to them because they have this great new proven toy for suppressing people."
Other protesters noted that the Toronto police have been increasingly doling out serious charges, such as assaulting an officer, to intimidate people from participating in demonstrations. To date, none of these charges has stuck in court.
For years activists in the black community have protested against the Toronto force's racist record of deadly violence against black and immigrant youth. What seems new is the willingness of police to use violence against peaceful demonstrations, even in the presence of the media. In part, this audacity can be attributed to 1998 changes to provincial legislation which allowed police forces more independence from civilian watchdogs, and for political activity by police.
Some activists have approached members of City Council and the Police Services Board, to call for a public inquiry.
At its recent Convention, the Toronto Committee of the Communist Party adopted a municipal program which includes a detailed proposal for strengthening civilian control.
"As an armed instrument of the state, the police must be forbidden from political activity and they must be subject to strict civilian controls," said Toronto CPC spokesperson Dave McKee. "Racism, sexism and homophobia are rampant within the police force, and it is high time that these problems were severely addressed. Toronto Communists will fight for a restructured police services board, with representation from women, labour, aboriginal people, black and immigrant communities, and the gay and lesbian community."
McKee added that, "It's absolutely appalling that the main news issue about the police right now is what their new uniforms will look like. As far as I'm concerned, the cops might as well dress up like Darth Vader's stormtroopers, because that's what they act like."
As Ontario municipalities approach a civic election this November, the labour and progressive movements will be pressuring candidates to fight for strong democratic control over policing.
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