Finally a large newspaper picked up the story about the hand tagging with invisible ink. The lower court judge said it was ok... much like going to a night club.. But when your hands are behind your back, you feel a burning sensation of writing on your hands and you get told "No we aren't doing anything to your hands"...
Here is the article in the Globe and Mail.
Also my friends are still $4000 short of the money they need for the court case. Please help:
Showing posts with label Occupons Montreal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Occupons Montreal. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Judge dismisses Occupiers court battle over the legality of Branding Protesters
Back in November 2011 when Occupy Montreal was dismantled, the SPVM arrested some of the Occupiers. What happened is that people were UV tagged and never told. Apparently big brother can do anything and face no consequences.
Judge dismisses Occupiers court battle over the legality of Branding
Protesters
I woke up this morning to an E-mail from the Lawyer who
graciously represented me and two fellow occupiers in court appearances vs. the
City of Montreal. To say that I felt let
down and betrayed by the legal system as I read that the entire case had been dismissed
and that we would now have to pay the court fees would be an
understatement. Fees I have no idea how
I will repay.
When we took up this battle upon the wishes of other occupiers we knew we could face the consequences of losing. We knew there would likely be no form of compensation awarded. I was OK with these things; I fought so that my voice would be heard. I fought for those who were affected by the disgusting branding protocol of the SPVM. I had thought that a judge would say that writing on people with the intent of subterfuge; that marking us with invisible ink while our hands were tied behind our backs was wrong. I thought that lying to us about it would be deemed equally wrong. I was banking on that acknowledgement and nothing more. I think this is why my disappointment stings so deeply.
When we took up this battle upon the wishes of other occupiers we knew we could face the consequences of losing. We knew there would likely be no form of compensation awarded. I was OK with these things; I fought so that my voice would be heard. I fought for those who were affected by the disgusting branding protocol of the SPVM. I had thought that a judge would say that writing on people with the intent of subterfuge; that marking us with invisible ink while our hands were tied behind our backs was wrong. I thought that lying to us about it would be deemed equally wrong. I was banking on that acknowledgement and nothing more. I think this is why my disappointment stings so deeply.
For those who do not know the story, I was a protester at
Occupy Montreal in 2011 who remained on site during the eviction to stand up
for my beliefs. I was angered at the
time that the city would change their bylaws to get rid of their “protester
problem”, a tactic we were privileged to witness time and time again throughout
the “Printemps Erable” and the student protests of later years. I stayed knowing full well that I was going
to be arrested; and that was the point.
I was willing to be arrested to prove my point. I was in a public place exercising my right
to freedom of speech; I felt I had every right to be in Parc Square
Victoria. What I wasn’t banking on was
the treatment I received, and while I negotiated with the officers who led me
away to be gentle, that I would co-operate; this didn’t follow though to the
female officers I was handed to for processing and this is where everything
began to go wrong.
I was questioned and handcuffed with my hands behind my back and led to a bus. In the entrance to the bus I had one officer speaking to me and another one behind me who wrote on my hand with what felt like a marker. I then felt a sharp metallic point scraping on my skin on the opposite hand. It felt WRONG and put me in a panic. I asked, “What are you doing?” as wild thoughts ran though my head of “what did I just get myself into?”. The officer told me she wrote on me with a pen as if challenging me to dispute her. Feeling like I was in over my head, I decided to keep quiet and complacent until my release where I discovered no pen marks, only a red blotchy rash on my hand that I had felt the metallic scraping on. Later after the advice from a friend, I checked my hands under a black light and was horrified to see I had invisible ink on the hand that I felt the scraping on, the same hand that was having some sort of allergic reaction. I tried calling the SPVM to find out what it was only to be given the run-around before I was told there was no information and hung up on.
When the story of what happened went viral after my blog post was shared around the world people began to ask that we take this to court. In the end I agreed, wanting to fight for the many people who wrote to me concerned and especially those who wrote to me saying they had this done to them at later protests.
In October 2014, nearly 3 years since the eviction of Occupy Montreal I found myself in court with two fellow occupiers taking on the City of Montreal and the SPVM regarding their questionable practices. What I learned while there was eye-opening as well, and aggravating. I learned that the hand branding was a procedure the SPVM had been using since 2009, two years before Occupy Montreal. I learned that it was used to “surprise protesters” as they were worried that protesters were giving false names like “The Tooth Fairy” and worried that they would swap identities in the holding tank. I learned that it was part of their protocol to brand us with invisible ink while our hands were tied behind our back, often while being distracted as I had been. They were told to deny anything, all in the aims of keeping it secret so they had this tool to “one up” protesters. They maintained that this practice was a practical and convenient way to control protesters. They likened their tactic to that of a bar stamping patrons with glow in the dark ink, stating that consent isn’t needed to write on our bodies; that the charter of rights is “not absolute”, that it “needs to be expected that exceptions need to be made”. All these things I learned angered me and left me feeling betrayed and after everything is said and done consent is everything; not to mention the UV “Pen” was nothing like a stamp at a bar.
I was questioned and handcuffed with my hands behind my back and led to a bus. In the entrance to the bus I had one officer speaking to me and another one behind me who wrote on my hand with what felt like a marker. I then felt a sharp metallic point scraping on my skin on the opposite hand. It felt WRONG and put me in a panic. I asked, “What are you doing?” as wild thoughts ran though my head of “what did I just get myself into?”. The officer told me she wrote on me with a pen as if challenging me to dispute her. Feeling like I was in over my head, I decided to keep quiet and complacent until my release where I discovered no pen marks, only a red blotchy rash on my hand that I had felt the metallic scraping on. Later after the advice from a friend, I checked my hands under a black light and was horrified to see I had invisible ink on the hand that I felt the scraping on, the same hand that was having some sort of allergic reaction. I tried calling the SPVM to find out what it was only to be given the run-around before I was told there was no information and hung up on.
When the story of what happened went viral after my blog post was shared around the world people began to ask that we take this to court. In the end I agreed, wanting to fight for the many people who wrote to me concerned and especially those who wrote to me saying they had this done to them at later protests.
In October 2014, nearly 3 years since the eviction of Occupy Montreal I found myself in court with two fellow occupiers taking on the City of Montreal and the SPVM regarding their questionable practices. What I learned while there was eye-opening as well, and aggravating. I learned that the hand branding was a procedure the SPVM had been using since 2009, two years before Occupy Montreal. I learned that it was used to “surprise protesters” as they were worried that protesters were giving false names like “The Tooth Fairy” and worried that they would swap identities in the holding tank. I learned that it was part of their protocol to brand us with invisible ink while our hands were tied behind our back, often while being distracted as I had been. They were told to deny anything, all in the aims of keeping it secret so they had this tool to “one up” protesters. They maintained that this practice was a practical and convenient way to control protesters. They likened their tactic to that of a bar stamping patrons with glow in the dark ink, stating that consent isn’t needed to write on our bodies; that the charter of rights is “not absolute”, that it “needs to be expected that exceptions need to be made”. All these things I learned angered me and left me feeling betrayed and after everything is said and done consent is everything; not to mention the UV “Pen” was nothing like a stamp at a bar.
All of that was in the end, unnecessary. I had provided them with photo ID. They photographed me as well (a practice done
more to be able to link protesters to crimes found in you tube videos). The black permanent marker took me 3 days of
scrubbing to remove from my skin and the invisible ink more than a week to
start to fade. The ultra violet ink and the subterfuge that went with it, all
the lies and pretending was all unneeded. It was also pointed out while in
court that the invisible numbers were in place to try and catch us red-handed
in the days after being arrested, a way to pin future infractions on us. I can’t help but feel this was part of a plan
to intimidate us protesters and in a way I feel they succeeded in this goal as
the two fellow occupiers I went to court with and myself have ceased protesting altogether since
Occupy Montreal. A number of the others
who were arrested that day also left behind their protesting careers and this
fact makes me sad and ashamed of myself for giving up the fight.
I learned many other interesting things while in court;
confirmations that they did indeed have a team watching our livestream and
social media groups, that they were following and profiling who they thought
were key figures of the protest on social media and while we were at square
Victoria, even long after the eviction date.
It was plainly said in court that they treated the eviction like a riot,
not the peaceful demonstration that it was. They came prepared for 300 arrests
and failed to alter their tactics when we were a small group of 16. They had 10
officers for every protester on site. We
were detained for over an hour on the bus for a municipal infraction that they
could have easily have sent us a ticket in the mail for. They specifically
altered the rules of the Square Victoria in order to have grounds to expel us
from the site. To think that our name and Identity are unimportant, that what
matters is the number we were branded with to render us into a statistic, it
leaves me feeling rather much like they treat us protesters like cattle and not
like human beings.
In the end the judge ruled that it’s within police protocol to brand us with numbers without our consent and the most terrifying thing is the fact that this case will be reflected on for all future cases of this nature. This decision sets precedent. Where can the lines be drawn, what is a step too far across the line? It’s frightening that these liberties were taken at a municipal level. What truly is next? I feel the instant that I was written on and then lied to was a step way too far over the line; that my body had been violated, my trust doubly so. I have stood meekly waiting for this all to come to an end and now am starting to feel the fire in my belly once again. Their attempts to silence me have ended today and I call out to all of you who read this essay to the very end to share my experience and the outcome with anyone you feel ought to know. They had the power of subterfuge, if the general public knows; we remove some of that power.
Nina Haigh
Occupy Montreal
June 11th 2015
Sunday, May 06, 2012
Another nasty law about to be passed under our noses....
Proposed law -
*****************
Backbencher's bill on masked protesters gets Conservative backing
Ottawa- The Canadian Press
Published Sunday, May. 06, 2012 1:57PM EDT
Last updated Sunday, May. 06, 2012 2:06PM EDT
Ottawa- The Canadian Press
Published Sunday, May. 06, 2012 1:57PM EDT
Last updated Sunday, May. 06, 2012 2:06PM EDT
The Harper government is throwing its weight behind a private members' bill that would give police the power to arrest anyone hiding their identity during a riot or unlawful assembly.
Conservative backbencher Blake Richards is proposing penalties of up to five years in prison or a fine of up to $5,000 for protesters who wear a mask or disguise.
Conservative backbencher Blake Richards is proposing penalties of up to five years in prison or a fine of up to $5,000 for protesters who wear a mask or disguise.
Justice Minister Rob Nicholson has formally announced the Conservative majority will support the legislation, meaning it is all but assured of becoming law.
Mr. Richards says the bill is designed to give police more power to prevent the kinds of riots that have caused so much damage, including the current student riots in Quebec, the Stanley Cup riot of last spring in Vancouver and the G20 protests in Toronto two years ago.
Mr. Richards says he sees the bill as primarily preventative in nature, allowing police to step in before violence and property damage escalate.
But civil libertarians are concerned that the legislation will give police the power to break up peaceful protests, which are frequently filled with people in costumes, masks or even face paint that could be construed as concealing identity under the new law.
Mr. Richards says the bill is designed to give police more power to prevent the kinds of riots that have caused so much damage, including the current student riots in Quebec, the Stanley Cup riot of last spring in Vancouver and the G20 protests in Toronto two years ago.
Mr. Richards says he sees the bill as primarily preventative in nature, allowing police to step in before violence and property damage escalate.
But civil libertarians are concerned that the legislation will give police the power to break up peaceful protests, which are frequently filled with people in costumes, masks or even face paint that could be construed as concealing identity under the new law.
******************************
Here is a link to a page that helps you beat facial recognition software even if you cannot mask yourself.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Overheard today...
"March against police brutality might as well be organized by the police because it will end up with police brutality. "
I hear that the SQ and the RCMP will be on hand to assist the SPVM.
If you want to participate in Montreal in a march against police brutality, the info for event is here:
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Rally against RoboGate on Sunday
I was disappointed with the turnout for the rally against the Robogate and election fraud. There was way too few people. Not sure how come a whole segment of the splinter groups of Occupy Montreal who were not aware of this event. I'm talking about the ones who come to all the marches - especially the anonymous mask wearing ones. I did end up taking photos.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Wake Up-- Rage Against Illegitimate Harper Government!
MONTREAL RALLY AGAINST ROBOGATE - Today at NOON SQUARE VICTORIA!!!!!
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
Would you be pissed to realize your significant other is an UNDERCOVER POLICE officer?
Several activist women in Canada, the US, Great Britain and I'm sure other countries wake up to realize that their boyfriend is nothing but an undercover cop and their entire relationship has been a scam to monitor the activities of an activist group. Even worse when they FATHER CHILDREN with these women. Read more.
Thursday, March 01, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Homelessness - it's closer than you think
When raised in a bourgeois middle class or when you're part of the upper class or even 1%, it's really easy to ignore the scores of homeless people that litter downtown Montreal and many indoor public spaces. Depending where you go, it can be some of Canada's natives - who's life on their reserves are even worse then being homeless downtown Montreal, or just plain Quebecois down on their luck and sometimes it's new arrivals who fail to navigate through the maze of social services. Many don't realize this but many new arrivals suffer from PTSD and many have witnessed crimes no human should see. Not to say this doesn't also happen to the locals, but many of those destitute are people who need help, NOT tickets from the city!
Sure a percentage of the homeless have either drug, alcohol or mental health issues, but what does this say about our society, when not only do we not provide help to the downtrodden but instead impose fines on them for loitering, drunk and disorderly, public urination, and lord knows what other petty crimes they may be doing. Some actually go to antagonize homeless guys to find an excuse to toss them in jail. I'd much rather pay for more shelters then more jails personally!
Article in La Presse this morning talks about the problem with the city of Montreal and it's abuse of tickets.
What is frightening having now known several young men [men in their 30's] who have ended homeless, is to realize how close any of us are to being homeless. It doesn't take that much when you're already on the edge to lose it all. If you're lucky and you have friends, they let you couch surf until you're back on your feet, or if you have family. But sometimes your family are losers and your friends have all double-crossed you so where do you go?
Here's another interesting link that discusses homelessness and housing crisis across Canada.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
Sit-in at CEGEP du vieux Montreal.
Link to video about events at CEGEP du view Montreal this morning.
IS police brutality on the rise in Montreal ?
I have no statistics on the matter, but I know what recently happened. I know we had a vigil for Farshad Mohammadi, he was homeless and was the first death in Montreal in 2012 - shot by SPVM. They claimed he had a knife. What? 2 trained police officers cannot disarm a man with a knife without killing him?
Then I heard about the student protest, where police got brutal with them, never mind the protest yesterday morning at Tour de la bourse where some of my friends got pepper sprayed!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Happy Valentines day
I should have written this earlier today...
At 5:30 today, at Berri-UQAM there is a Marche a l'amour - where poems will be read.
Also at 5:30 today, at Cabot Square [Atwater metro] there is a Memorial march for disappeared and murdered indigenous women. This is the 3rd year for this event in Montreal.
At 6pm in front of St James the Apostle Anglican church on the corner of Bishop and SteCatherine there is a silent stand for all the fallen heroes of the Syrian revolution.
Thursday, February 09, 2012
City of Montreal claims it cost them a fortune to take down Occupy Montreal
Here is the thing, they kept much of the equipment they took that day and I can't help but wonder how much money they could have recouped if they had sold the materials. Because they certainly didn't give us back our things as promised. Read more about the story here.
Thursday, February 02, 2012
Video of vigil for Farshad Mohammadi
Here is the video for the vigil of Farshad Mohammadi, the homeless man shot by the SPVM. Amusingly we were one of the first people at the event, and the police officer in charge of supervising the event came to ask who was in charge of the event and if we had an itinerary. I told him that as far as I knew, we were going to stand there for one hour and then disperse, and that the organizers were not there yet. They did show up but were about 15 minutes late probably due to the snow. It was hell walking in those conditions.
Mind you I'm of the mindset that if it's downtown somewhere it walkable. So I take the train to Gare Centrale and walk anywhere I need to go. That day I figured we had a window of opportunity to go get hubby his doc martens. So we walked from Gare Centrale to St Denis a bit above Sherbrooke to Rio [or was it X20 I can never remember] and then walked back to the SPVM headquarters for the vigil holding boots.
He loves his new docs and finds them really comfortable and warm. I like the fact that though they are just leather boots, unlined, often I find them warmer then winter boots. Unless I'm going to be outside long, I prefer wearing docs.
I also love my new docs. I have 20 hole docs that go to my knees, but I don't find those practical for certain activities, though I love them for going to protest marches. For camping and other activities I prefer 8 hole docs. The pair I got back in the 90s were so dead, though I keep them for camping. So I ended up taking a pair of floral doc martens home with me. Did I mention I love them? I've had several people say that they were so me :)
Mind you I'm of the mindset that if it's downtown somewhere it walkable. So I take the train to Gare Centrale and walk anywhere I need to go. That day I figured we had a window of opportunity to go get hubby his doc martens. So we walked from Gare Centrale to St Denis a bit above Sherbrooke to Rio [or was it X20 I can never remember] and then walked back to the SPVM headquarters for the vigil holding boots.
He loves his new docs and finds them really comfortable and warm. I like the fact that though they are just leather boots, unlined, often I find them warmer then winter boots. Unless I'm going to be outside long, I prefer wearing docs.
I also love my new docs. I have 20 hole docs that go to my knees, but I don't find those practical for certain activities, though I love them for going to protest marches. For camping and other activities I prefer 8 hole docs. The pair I got back in the 90s were so dead, though I keep them for camping. So I ended up taking a pair of floral doc martens home with me. Did I mention I love them? I've had several people say that they were so me :)
Monday, January 02, 2012
Monday, December 26, 2011
Sunday, December 25, 2011
More Occupy Cats.
Apparently I had a wealth of cat photo's in or around kitty tents. So I was able to create many Occupy LOL cats :) Here are a few more to cheer me up today.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
The not so silent March of December 17th, 2011
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