[IPSM] police brutality mars women's day march in montreal//brutalité policière durant la marche à montréal pour la journée internationale des femmes

[samir]

désolé, version anglais ci-dessous seulement, pour maintenant...

-s

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	police brutality mars women's day march in montreal
Date: 	Fri, 9 Mar 2007 12:10:30 -0500
From: 	Dolores Chew



please circulate widely to contact and media here and elsewhere.


For Immediate Release



Montreal 9 March 2007

Police brutality mars Women's Day Celebration in Montreal

Police Assault women  at International Women's Day March



Yesterday, as Montrealers, along with many around the world celebrated 
International Women's Day - the event was marred by police brutality in 
which three young women were assaulted, injured and traumatized. Among 
the issues that were brought up during the speeches at Montreal's 
women's day march was that in Iran women were prevented from celebrating 
international women's day. And women in Pakistan were also attacked 
yesterday in a women's day event.  Yesterday's events make ensure 
Montreal shares this distinction!



Marchers celebrating International Women's Day had walked from Place 
Emilie Gamelin (Berri Square) to Phillips Square, along Ste-Catherine 
Street.  After speeches they made their way back to Berri Square. The 
police made an announcement asking people to walk on the sidewalk. Jaggi 
Singh, who had been one of many male supporters among the 200 strong 
celebrating international women's day moved onto the sidewalk. The 
others continued marching in the street.  Police officers began to rush 
towards Singh, still walking on the sidewalk.  They grabbed him and 
threw him against a nearby police car.

Other marchers gathered around the car out of concern for the violent 
way in which police were intervening.  Police began hitting and pushing 
people indiscriminately.  Several people were knocked to the ground with 
batons and night sticks.  Emma Strople, a 17 year old marcher, was hit 
in the chest with the end of a night stick and thrown to the ground, by 
an officer later identified as Doyon.  Her ribs were bruised, she was 
winded, trembling from shock and her knee was cut open enough that the 
blood seeped through her jeans.  Two other women were also injured - one 
woman's lips and mouth were swollen and bleeding, from being punched in 
the face by a police officer; another left with cuts on her knee and 
stomach.  The police showed a total disregard for the injuries mounting 
around them. They placed Jaggi Singh in the police car and began to 
leave.  The marchers that remained left by Berri Metro.



The 8th March Committee of Women of Diverse Origins, one of the key 
groups involved in the march strongly denounces last night's police 
brutality yesterday and the arrest of  Singh.  Are we to go back to the 
time when women in Canada were not considered 'persons'? When women were 
to be seen and not heard?   In Quebec today on the eve of an election we 
have seen how violence against women is still something that is 
trivialized, including by those that seek to represent us in the 
democratic system. Yesterday's police attack on  women and their allies 
proves that even those who are supposed to be the guardians of the law 
and ensure gender equality, see women as people to be controlled with 
the threat and the use of violence. Women, as we struggle for equality 
are facing a backlash. How can we feel safe when the police themselves 
exhibit the violence that is endemic to patriarchy?

  More than ever the police brutality of yesterday demonstrates that we 
have a long way to go; that women's struggles for equality that have 
always linked to improving the lives of our families and communities, 
ensuring democratic processes of equality and participation of ALL in 
the political process are constantly BLOCKADED by the state and its 
representatives. How can women seek assistance against the violence in 
their lives when those entrusted with their safekeeping are perpetrators 
of brutality and violence?

  Last night's police violence is shameful and fearful. We demand that 
the City of Montreal and the government of Quebec immediately 
investigate the assaults and arrest of yesterday and that women, our 
allies and supporters  feel safe and free to work in support of equality 
and justice.



Info: Dolores Chew 514-885-5976 dolchew at hotmail.com

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