Saskatoon - G20 Protest and March: Defend Your Rights

Date: July 17

Time: 11am - 1pm (CST)

Location: River Landing (by Victoria/Traffic Bridge), Saskatoon

In light of the actions of the police during the G20 towards innocent and peaceful protesters, and the fact that the Toronto Chief of Police wilfully misinformed Canadians regarding laws passed, we believe that it's time that Canadians all over the country stood together in solidarity and in support of our common civil rights!

We mustn't forget the blatant violation of our constitutional liberties, including unlawful searches and detentions, abuse, and wilful misinformation.

During the G20, the police acted in a way that directly contradicts how we believe a lawful society should behave. Many protesters and innocent bystanders were unjustly arrested and detained for up to 36 hours, some without even the right to have access to a lawyer or a phone call.

There are many accounts of sexual harassment, a deprivation of food and water, and of male police strip searching women.

There are also accounts of rubber bullets being used against peaceful protesters at the designated protest zone, as well as outside the despicable detention facility.

Chief of Police Bill Blair willfully misinformed the public.

It would be unthinkable to suggest 10 years ago that such behaviour could have happened in Canada. But, look where we stand now: a government bent on authoritative control over information and blatant disregard for civil liberties.

The G20 wreaked havoc.

CANADIANS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE DEMAND AN INDEPENDENT AND PUBLIC FEDERAL INQUIRY INTO POLICE ACTIONS AND THE DECISION-MAKING APPARATUS RESPONSIBLE DURING THE G20 SUMMIT THAT TOOK PLACE IN TORONTO BETWEEN JUNE 26TH AND JUNE 27TH, 2010.

The rally is:

1- about the dangerous precedent that this sets for our civil liberties in the future;

2- to demand a public inquiry into the conduct of the police and, more importantly, the politicians who were complicit in this deplorable sequence of events;

3- and last, but most certainly not least, about the consequences that this has for political participation among the general public, which is precisely the topic with which CAPP is concerned: the chilling effect that these events are bound to have on the psyche of the average citizen and their willingness to be politically active, the inevitable repression of activists that tends to follow after events such as this, etc.

Are you upset? Do you want to speak out? Join us and stand up for your civil liberties!

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Here in Saskatoon, we're meeting at River Landing in downtown Saskatoon. At noon we will commence our march to deliver our community petition to the office of Saskatoon Rosetown-Biggar Member of Parliament Kelly Block, at 904 22st Street West. (We'll go up 2nd Avenue, then left on 20th Street, right on Avenue H, and then left for a half-block to Ms. Block's office.)

Where: River Landing

When: Saturday, July 17th, 2010, at 11AM

Come let your voice be heard, sign our community petition, and deliver a message to the Canadian government!

Musicians are more than welcome! We'd love all the music and protest chants we can get going.

We'll have some signs made, but please bring your own if you can. If you're interested in helping keep things together or passing out fliers the day of, please 'Facebook' an administrator of this event.

Speakers:

Tim Quigley: law professor; was present at the G20 in Toronto

Mike Fornssler: G20 protester and detainee in Toronto

FB Event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=131165833589344