[news] Woodwards "Ideas Fair" Ends in Police Violence

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From: Friends of the Woodwards Squat <violetta_sera at hotmail.com>
To: apc-discuss at resist.ca
Subject: [APC-Discuss] Woodwards "Ideas Fair" Ends in Police Violence
Date: 24 May 2003 21:43:45 -0700

Random Violent Arrest at "Ideas Fair"; Bread Blockade @ Main & Cordova
by fennel -  Saturday May 24, 2003 at 08:48 PM
Vancouver Independent Media Centre
http://vancouver.indymedia.org/news/2003/05/48934.php

Peaceful bystander arrested for "obstruction" at the Woodwards Ideas Fair 
today, still in custody, street blockade on Main St. btwn Cordova and 
Hastings to protest.

At the end of the city council sponsored "Woodwards Ideas Fair" today (May 
24) at the Chinese Cultural Center at 50 E. Pender, Trevor was arrested at 
approx. 3:30pm while standing by and peacefully observing another man being 
arrested for suspected marijuana possession. Several witnesses described 
Trevor as standing peacefully by observing, when he was approached by police 
who arrested him for "obstruction". Trevor was thrown against a brick wall 
by police, handcuffed and carried face down by his elbows and feet 
(straining his elbows and shoulders with his entire body weight). This was 
videotaped by at least two bystanders. Trevor at no point resisted the 
police. His face was dragged on the concrete at one point by police, and 
then he was thrown (with force) head first into a paddywagon. All of this 
was witnessed by approx. 15 people. He was then taken to an as yet 
undisclosed location, as police at nearby holding cells at Main and Cordova 
were denying having him present at 6pm.

Several of the people who witnessed Trevor's arrest marched to the police 
station on Main St., blocking traffic along the way. They then occupied the 
street in front of the police station on Main between Cordova and Hastings, 
where they are now, at 8:30pm. Trevor's mother and a lawyer arrived, and 
both have been repeatedly denied access to Trevor (access to a lawyer after 
arrest is a constitutional right).

The protestors in the street have pledged to stay there blocking traffic 
until Trevor is released. Trevor's mother is present at this time, wearing 
one of the many "Free Trevor" signs. CTV and BCTV camerapeople were on site 
for periods of time, filming the situation. Police watched and laughed while 
a man twice the size of a protestor repeatedly threatened violence to the 
protestor; immediately afterwards the same police threatened Trevor's mother 
with a ticket as she crossed the street with food for the protestors.

Large bags of bread were brought to the protestors with the intention of 
providing them dinner (including a 2.5 ft. square focaccia); however, they 
were recognized also for their blockade potential, due to their size. 
Supporters are encouraged to bring bags of bread, so that as one observer 
noted, "the police will have to eat their way through, and will become 
sluggish".

A police photographer appeared on the roof at one point, prompting those on 
the street below to begin chanting "Jump! Jump!"

All are encouraged to come out and support this protest, and to demand 
Trevor's immediate release.

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