XPost: can.politics, ont.politics, tor.general   
   XPost: ab.politics, mtl.general   
   From: Panca@nyet.ca   
      
   The G20 Summit in Toronto was nearly 4 1/2 years ago.  And its scars are still   
   evident today.   
   This is more than just finding those behind the mistreatment of legitimate   
   protesters. . . . this is about sending a message to governments and police   
   agencies that we, as citizens, have the right to protests in this country.   
   Without harassment and illegal curtailment of that right.   
   ____________________________________________________________   
      
   The Canadian Press - Sun, 16 Nov 2014   
      
   Senior Toronto cop set to face G20 'kettling,' mass arrest hearing   
      
      
   TORONTO - A long-delayed disciplinary hearing is finally slated to start   
   Wednesday for the most senior police officer charged in relation to the mass   
   violation of civil rights during the violence-marred G20 summit four years ago.   
      
   Civil liberties groups said they would be keeping a close eye on the month-long   
   proceedings against Toronto Supt. David (Mark) Fenton given the unprecedented   
   detentions of more than 1,000 people and the heavy security expected at next   
   year's Pan-Am Games in Toronto.   
      
   "It's a crucial piece in the entire accountability process," said Sukanya   
   Pillay, executive director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.  "Four   
   years later, Canadians are still looking for answers.  We need answers."   
      
   Fenton, the major incident commander, faces a total of five charges of unlawful   
   arrest and discreditable conduct arising out of two notorious "kettling"   
   incidents that occurred over the summit weekend.   
      
   The first occurred on Saturday, June 26, 2010, hours after a small group of   
   rampaging vandals smashed windows and set police cruisers alight.   
      
   Fenton ordered officers to box in protesters in front of a downtown hotel.   
   More than 260 people were arrested and taken to a makeshift prisoner processing   
   centre, which came under severe criticism for its deplorable conditions.  Some   
   were caged for as long as 26 hours.   
      
   According to the allegations against him, Fenton had no legitimate reason to   
   believe the protesters had breached the peace or to order them detained.   
      
   On the Sunday, six minutes after coming on shift, Fenton ordered police to keep   
   scores of people — many of them simply passersby — standing for hours at a   
   downtown intersection despite a severe thunderstorm that left them drenched and   
   chilled.   
      
   "You repeated and maintained these orders notwithstanding the onset of   
   sustained, severe and inclement weather (and) the health and safety risks to   
   the civilians thus contained," the allegation notice states.   
      
   It was only when Chief Bill Blair intervened that those still kettled, soaked   
   and shivering in the cold, were released.   
      
   Fenton, who repeatedly referred to the protesters as "terrorists" over the   
   summit weekend, has pleaded not guilty.  None of the allegations has been   
   proven.   
      
   In a statement to civilian oversight investigators, Fenton said he had no   
   option to the mass arrests to make the city safe.   
      
   More than 1,000 people were detained over the summit weekend in what is   
   considered the largest mass arrest in Canada's peacetime history. Most were   
   released without charge.   
      
   To date, only two constables of 32 officers charged have been found guilty of   
   discreditable conduct arising out of the G20. Another 14 cases were dismissed,   
   withdrawn or stayed. The rest are ongoing.   
      
   Insp. Gary Meissner, the only other senior officer to be charged, retired   
   before a hearing could take place.   
      
   One officer was criminally convicted of assault.  His disciplinary case is on   
   hold pending an appeal.   
      
   Fenton's hearing was initially slated to start in November 2012 but has been   
   delayed repeatedly. It was due to begin Monday but was put over until Wednesday   
   to accommodate a lawyer.   
      
   A retired judge, Peter Grossi of the Ontario Superior Court, will preside over   
   the hearing. Witnesses are expected to include broadcaster Steve Paikin, who   
   was at the first incident, and human-rights monitors who were arrested and   
   detained.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)