Wearing an American flag apparently was an offence that could get you arrested late last Friday night on Granville Street in downtown Vancouver.
In a video taken by a Vancouver-based journalist and posted on YouTube, several police officers surround a man with the stars and stripes draped over his shoulders. They tell him to put away his flag and, after a strained conversation, he complies. As the police move on, in a dismayed voice the man declares that he lives in Vancouver and loves Canada, even though he roots for the U.S. hockey team and just wants to "fly my colours."
Joshua Hergesheimer is the journalist who caught the footage as he followed a cluster of police officers moving through the rowdy crowd on Granville at 1:28 a.m. early Saturday morning, after Canada's men's hockey team had defeated Slovakia to set up a gold medal final against the U.S. The officers, Hergesheimer told The Tyee in a phone interview, "just kept going on at this guy. It just seemed like they were trying to intimidate him into putting [the flag] away. And eventually he does put it away."
On the tape, Hergesheimer then asks the man "What was that about?"
"They told me I had to put my American flag away," the man replies. "I love Canada. I live in Canada. I live here in Vancouver. I'm from California. I love America, too. I love the whole world. I just want to fly my colours. They told me I had to put it away or I would start a fight, and they would arrest me for breach of peace." The man also claims "I work for the Olympics."
After a bit, a friend of the man moves into the frame to state, "F*** Canada." The man tells his friend "No, no, no, we love Canada." But his friend adds "After the shit I just went through from the Canadian police, f*** Canada."
Below the video posted on YouTube, a person identifying himself as "the guy in the video" posts this comment:
"It was an unbelievable scene. I definitely felt for the Vancouver police. Downtown was madness and they had their hands full, but I never once felt threatened while I was walking through the streets. Canadians are the nicest people I have ever met. I'd also like to apologize for my friend's comment at the end of the video . . . he was very drunk and I assure you he loves Canada as much as I do. Thanks again for putting this up!"
However the profile of the person posting that remark gives his age as 59, and the person in the video appears to be in his 20s. The Tyee tried to contact the man through the YouTube comment but so far there has been no reply to our email.
A different person commenting on the YouTube video said:
"Man, i feel so bad for you. The RCMP have an tendency to abuse their power but i guess they don't wanna have to deal with a potential fight. But the threatening to arrest you part was uncalled for. Canadians are kind people and we would never start a fight just cuz we see an american flag, that would just be a disgrace to Canada"
Another wrote:
"I'm Canadian and I wore an American flag down Granville Friday night with a friend of mine just to see how the crowd would react too 2 Amercians chanting USA USA USA! SUNDAY WE STEAL CANADAS GOLD! We had police tell us too just keep walking and another cop told us we were brave. As for the crowd? We got hugs and some high fives, people YELLED O'CANADA as loud as they could and blew horns in our ears. one sad f***er in the crowd put his cigarette butt in my friends flag."
On the video, as they approach the man wearing the flag, the police officers can be heard saying, more than once, "We're trying to help you."
The man responds: "Everyone is being very nice."
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Van Isle
3 years ago
In a lot of countries there
In a lot of countries there is a respect for all flags and none are to be treated with disrespect. Flag etiquette is most important and so things like wearing a flag or letting it touch the ground is reason for arrest. Some countries that I've been to, if one looks at the flag the wrong way is reason enough for the police to arrest you.
Skywalker
3 years ago
Fans
Fans of the winning team have a tendency to show no class at all. Let's face it the boys on the ice, not the fans won a squeeker. The U.S got two unanswered goals during regulation time. It took an OT goal to win. Have some class and win graciously even if you sat on the sidelines throughout the whole effort. You didn't win squat; the team did.
Amelia Bellamy-Royds
3 years ago
"We're trying to help you"
I think the police officers' actions in this situation show the same logic as the decision to close down all the liquor stores early.
Since there's a chance that someone out there will do something stupid given the slightest provocation (or intoxication), all opportunity for provocation needs to be eliminated. Just as you can't be trusted to buy a celebratory drink without going overboard, you can't be trusted to treat someone of a different nationality with respect -- at the Olympics, even!
Given the size of the crowd, relative to the number of officers, and the unfortunate experience of more than one hockey-related riot in Canada's past, maybe this paternalistic mindset is justified. But that just makes it all the more sad.
BC Boy
3 years ago
Had to be more than just the flag
Had to be much more than just wearing the flag around the neck.
When downtown many times, I saw quite a few people holding up U.S. flags and Russian flags were flying from cars.
Had to be the flag waver had one too many
Buds. He was as his friend said was very drunk, so that was more of the concern than the U.S. flag itself in isolation to everything else.
Wonder why it took this long to make it into the Tyee.
G West
3 years ago
you mean like
You mean like the story the RCMP floated about Robert Dziekanski until they realized with that video record extant the public wouldn't buy it.
Anyone who assumes the police in this country are responsible and truth tellers has been living with their head in the sand for the past 15 years at least.
You might be surprised to know how much the RCMP has cut back its training budget in order to meet the Olympic security 'requirements'.
This kind of stuff is going to happen a lot more often in the future - cops think the public are 'pukes' and they're a special breed.
A lot of them get a charge out of tuning up a citizen now and again - especially when there are so many purblind citizens around who give them a pass because they like a man in uniform who behaves as if he/she has some legitimate authority.
These people are public servants - not a paramilitary organization.
Ramona777
3 years ago
Isn't this akin to ...
how the Nazis began their brainwashing. i.e. we are Superior. Don't mess with us.
The so-called patriotism and chest-thumping emanating from gold medal and hockey wins ... it makes us feel on the top of the world, but is it not dangerous?
United by hockey? I don't think so.
It's not a pastime of immigrants, people who treasure their teeth and Mensans.
We are becoming a brainwashed populace, snickered by a sport, neglecting the torments around us, preferring to be amused, emerging as victors and feeling superior.
BC Boy
3 years ago
A little different
"You mean like the story the RCMP floated about Robert Dziekanski until they realized with that video record extant the public wouldn't buy it."
Not the same thing.
"Anyone who assumes the police in this country are responsible and truth tellers has been living with their head in the sand for the past 15 years at least."
oh?
"You might be surprised to know how much the RCMP has cut back its training budget in order to meet the Olympic security 'requirements'. "
You might be surprised as to how much the public supported the RCMP.
"This kind of stuff is going to happen a lot more often in the future - cops think the public are 'pukes' and they're a special breed."
No they don't. An interesting talent there
being able to forsee the future. Might
want to consider setting up a booth at the PNE, get a purple conical hat with crescent moons on it and there would be
enough money earned to buy a burger at Bob's Lunch.
"A lot of them get a charge out of tuning up a citizen now and again - especially when there are so many purblind citizens around who give them a pass because they like a man in uniform who behaves as if he/she has some legitimate authority."
Hmm, just as the protestors get a charge
out of damaging property and interrupting traffic?
"These people are public servants - not a paramilitary organization"
Actually in technical terms, the RCMP is
paramilitary in its operands and scope of
environment, just as any regional police are.
Talk to an RCMP constable and be nice when that happens.
DPL
3 years ago
Collect 10,000 cops and cop
Collect 10,000 cops and cop wanabees and the absence of any terrorist threats, so the uniforms just had to blame someone
G West
3 years ago
Still can't figure out the html code eh?
Another unintelligible comment.
If you haven't got the wit to understand the fact that statement about the cops shouldn' be paramilitary didn't just refer to the obvious point about the RCMP then you really do have comprehension problems.
Lying is the same - especially when the folks doing the lying have guns.
But folks like you won't be satisfied until things have gotten so bad that everyone starts carrying guns like they do in many parts of the States.
I have cops in my family - I know exactly what they think of civilians.
And don't tell me how to behave - boy.
Whiskey River
3 years ago
BC Boyyy
The same people who complain about the TRAGEDY of a few broken windows by protesters say nothing about the Carnage of Drunk partiers or Drunk BC Liberal drivers, the police were perhaps worried about the man`s physical well being,some redneck BC Boy would lay the boots to him because he was flying an "enemy" flag.
Nazi Germany,that`s what the US reporter reported about Vancouver in the below link...
Real funny stuff last night on the Colbert report(Stephen Colbert)...He mentioned the downtown eastside and the failed human experiment,he called it a social disaster,blocks of scary looking drug addicts, although he did add that they were friendly drug addicts.
http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Class+determination+never+doubt/2525412/Dallas+Fort+Worth+sports+columnist+likens+patriotism+Nazi+Germany/2632505/story.html
BC Boy
3 years ago
Use HTML when it's needed
"Another unintelligible comment."
From the same previous poster.
"If you haven't got the wit to understand the fact that statement about the cops shouldn' be paramilitary didn't just refer to the obvious point about the RCMP then you really do have comprehension problems."
oh? Are you an expert on comprehension?
"Lying is the same - especially when the folks doing the lying have guns."
So where did "lying" enter the equation
on this flag incident?
"But folks like you won't be satisfied until things have gotten so bad that everyone starts carrying guns like they do in many parts of the States."
Interesting talent being able to see into
the perceived future.
"I have cops in my family - I know exactly what they think of civilians."
Anyone can say "I have cops in my family".
I don't but I do know an RCMP Inspector
now retired from service.
"And don't tell me how to behave - boy."
Yeah right. I wouldn't even start. It would
take too long and have better things to do.
I've salvaged and repaired many things succesfully in business, but this
previous poster would take up too much time. Better to be left as is.
zalm
3 years ago
It's pretty dark...
...down there in your mother's basement. Time to get out into the light and get up off your brains a bit - the toxic sludge is backing up into your palate....
Honestly, except for your smarmy argumentative bon mots, you're completely incomprehensible!
"Did not!.... did too!...did not!... Whaaaa?"
zalm
3 years ago
On the other hand...
...four wars aren't enough for Canada and the US to have fought?
Some people are pretty stupid, and this faux patriotism only makes 'em stupider. I used to think that was the exclusive preserve of middle America, where whole states manage to equal the collective IQ of Forrest Gump, but it appears Canada is laden with similar home-grown talent.
And they can vote too. Sad.
freebear
3 years ago
NIce assessment zalm!
So true and so sad!
freebear
3 years ago
Some people
like to shout fire in a theatre; especially drunken people!
max von smartt
3 years ago
amerika uber alles!!
The 2010 circus was quite a distraction for the masses. While the Empire and lackey kolony Kanada fight for oil in the East, the Games and the mindlesswashing go on n on.
offended
3 years ago
Someone else took a video
of the same incident and it was quite clear that the police were concerned the dude would get beat up or hassled if he kept wearing the American flag so they asked him to take it off. He didn't want to and they told him they would arrest him if they had to to protect him. That's what I saw and I'm not always a great fan of the police but could understand what they were trying to do.
Just like the liquor store closings, as someone else has already mentioned. Tempest in a teapot.
Takuan
3 years ago
cops break the law
all the time , mostly because they don't know what the law is. Also because they don't care.
We don't have to put up with this. I'm also getting quite fed up with cop's ignorance and contempt for the law causing gangsters to walk free when they get to court.
Squeeze them where it hurts; lobby to cut police funding until they bring up their own standards. Maybe then those that know better will weed the real idiots out of their own ranks.
Joshua Hergesheimer
3 years ago
threaten people with arrest for wearing a flag?
Anyone who says the police were right to ask the guy to remove his flag misunderstand the importance of being able to express national pride. If they thought he was at risk, why not provide him with a security detail or a police escort? There were more than enough cops around that they could have spared a few boys to walk with him and keep him safe. Threatening him with arrest for non-compliance with their ridiculous orders just makes our police look authoritarian and petty.
offended, let's posit another scenario: would you let the police arrest your girlfriend, wife or sister if she didn't immediately leave downtown, as there were drunk men down there who 'might' sexually assault her? Would we accept that women wearing skirts be forcibly covered by the police because they 'might' provoke assaults? Would we accept it if the police told us all Jewish people had to cover their yamulkas because people 'might' get violent?
Think about it...
zalm
3 years ago
Interesting metaphors...
...Joshua Hergesheimer.
But I wouldn't waste time wondering if BC Boy will listen to your argument either, no matter how good it is.
Hmmmm... has Elliott the Iddiott returned to us in new guise?