No2010 Victoria challenges police chief
to a debate about spies and civil liberties
by
No 2010
A Victoria group opposed to the 2010 Olympics is challenging police chief Jamie Graham to a public debate about secret police tactics and civil liberties. Graham's recent statements that police infiltrated a group traveling by bus to Victoria raise new concerns about the legality of police conduct.
"The police have pledged to protect and serve a corporate-sponsored sporting event, and they are spending millions to harass social justice advocates and indigenous rights activists and anti-poverty groups. That is not acceptable."
"Now that he's raised the subject of possible illegal police operations, we are challenging him to explain his statements and
defend the tactics he's bragging about, if he can," Blunt said.
On Monday, November 31, Graham told a group of security conference attendees that police had infiltrated a group attending an anti-Olympics rally and march on October 30th, 2009.
"You knew that the protesters weren't that organized when on the ferry on the way over they all rented a bus, they all came over on a bus, and there was a cop driving the bus!” Graham told the 12th Vancouver International Security Conference on Monday.
For months, members of No2010 Victoria and the Vancouver Olympic Resistance Network have been warning the public about police violation of civil liberties. Harassment by security police, bylaws banning signs and purchases of military-grade crowd-control equipment have mainly served to alienate the public and shine a light on police abuses.
Olympic critics across Canada have spoken out against the Games not only as a colossal waste of public resources, but also for the social costs they will bring to the region.
"We've been open and out-spoken in rallying support for indigenous rights, an end to homelessness, and environmental justice on growing social issues that can be directly attributed to the Olympics," said Blunt.
