* Story updated at 4:26 p.m. on June 25, 2009.
VANCOUVER - A lawyer for Olympic Resistance Network members wants the RCMP Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit to stop the "abusive and unlawful" treatment of his clients.*
Lawyer Jason Gratl wrote June 11 to V2010 ISU Asst. Comm. Bud Mercer to complain about "thinly veiled threats" by Joint Intelligence Group officers to interfere with his clients' employment and personal lives during the week of June 1-5.
"The ISU's conduct is an infringement of my clients' rights to free expression, free association and privacy," Gratl wrote. He offered to receive ISU correspondence for his clients.
ORN members distributed the letter at a Wednesday news conference beside the Olympic countdown clock.
Names of Gratl's 11 clients were blacked out, but ORN members who claimed they were contacted by plainclothes officers at or near their home or workplace include Chris Shaw, Garth Mullins, Cara Fisher and Harjap Grewal.
"Not everybody is happy putting their face in front of the media," Mullins said. "If someone is known to police or of interest to police, that just casts a pall over people."
Cpl. Bert Paquet said ISU received the letter, but "we will respond in due time." He said Mercer was "tied up at an important meeting out of the country and not available via phone."
Bob Mackin reports for Vancouver 24 hours.
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The Blackbird
2 years ago
ORN Statement on Nonviolence
Thanks for this. I was at the media conference and wanted to add to your report that both Mr. Mullins and acting BC Civil Liberties Association Executive Director David Eby spoke to their support for Anti-Olympic protesters who wish to exercise their freedom to nonviolent protest.
Several months ago, I attended an ORN media conference where I heard Mr. Mullins state an intent to attack and disrupt the Games and then quoted him while guest-blogging for Mr. Eby, shortly thereafter. The post attracted some wider media attention before I learned through a mutual friend that Mr. Mullins was concerned about the quote and had challenged its veracity.
An attack may be physically violent, but it may also be verbal or written. The ambiguity of the word likely led some in media to wonder.
Immediately prior to that conference some ORN members hung a huge RIOT 2010 banner from the roof of the three-story building in which the event took place. During the conference, media were referred to the website no2010.com which has offered news of protest actions which go beyond nonviolent protest. A few months back on Facebook, one ORN spokesperson updated her status to read how she loved those protesters who were bloodied by police in a recent series of UK clashes more than all of the others. Given some of what we've seen in recent months, the ORN's Internet-broadcast invitations to rebels from all parts to converge on the city in February to disrupt the Games is a cause for concern. The ORN appreciates why the police are interested in them.
Their complaint is police use of intimidation and harassment of its members. Based on the testimony of those members who were approached by police, I'd say the manner in which the investigations have been carried out is too heavy-handed. These protesters are committed to their cause and such tactics will only lead to embarrassing media conferences and organized protests. Still the police state they will continue to approach ORN members as they have done in recent months.
It was good to hear Mr. Mullins clarify his support for nonviolent protest and did not endorse actions that might result in physical harm to people or property damage. Hopefully, VISU2010 will receive this as an olive branch and reconsider its position on engaging in a public forum where outstanding issues may be addressed.
The air needs to be cleared.
Photos of yesterday's conference may be viewed here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackbird_hollow/sets/72157620412716779/show/