85 confirmed arrests, 50 unconfirmed

Quebec Legal Collective   2001-04-21



 

Quebec Legal Collective Update April 21st 2001

8pm



Arrests: There have been 85 arrests confirmed thus far.

Confirmation means that we have received calls from these

people in jail. There are additional reports of over 50

arrests that have been witnessed by legal observers and the

media.

Detentions: The legal office has received more than thirty

reports of people being detained on the street and

questioned by the police. We have also spoken with and

received reports from a number of vans, buses, and cars that

have been stopped. Reports include incidents of police

unlawfully demanding identification from all passengers in

cars; unlawful searches of people on the street who are not

under arrest and do not consent; and ticketing of people

who have tear gas masks.

Brutality: Many reports from legal observers include the use

of noxious gases. Entire streets and blocks are filled with

fog from the gas. Official CBC reports indicate at times

the gas canisters have been thrown as fast as 30 canisters

per minute. There have been a number of reports of the use

of rubber bullets and possible plastic bullets. QLC legal

observers have collected entire bullets and shells from the

ground. There have also been reports of the use of bean

bags shot from police weapons. We have one confirmed report

of a man with a broken arm hit by tear gas canister fired at

close range (two feet).

Targeted Arrests: There are eye witness reports of over a

dozen targeted arrests of individuals. Police have made

targeted, pre-planned arrests of specific people, without

regard to their current actions. For example three police

cars pulled up on the side of the road, jumped out and

tackled the person to the ground. In another situation

witnessed by legal observers, two undercover police vans

picked up three people as they were walking peacefully by a

gas station. This practice is consistent with

surveillance/secret service tactics at previous protests in

Seattle, Philadelphia, and DC.

Immigration Detentions: Over 300 people from the U.S. were

turned back at the border attempting to enter Canada. People

turned back had their personal belongings (including

phonebooks, literature, and journals) photocopied and were

interrogated about their political beliefs and activities

before they were turned away. Over 15 people were detained

at the New York and Vermont borders and have not yet been

released.