G20: A Torontonian’s story of detainment
I had no idea that I would be providing updates and reports on the G20 policing issue. I wrote my reflection on the idea of protesting a few days ago and then a follow-up with my thoughts on the subject again a day after seeing videos of what was really happening there. Since then, so many people have come forward with their thoughts and their opinions and their stories. I wrote an article a while ago entitled “Why I write“. In it, I mention that I embrace my responsibility to listen. And I think that this is where traditional media has gone wrong for so long:...
Read MoreMore video footage of the G20 rally in Ottawa
I’ve found some time to edit and put together another video of the rally held in Ottawa against the G20 Policing. The evidence of police brutality and abuse is simply overwhelming. And I think that public opinion about the role of the police during the protests in Toronto is changing from “they were just doing their job” to “… this is atrocious!”. Here’s a video that was recently shared by a commenter on my previous article. The last minute is especially shocking. And here is my final video on the rally against the policing tactics used during...
Read MoreAn interview with a G20 protester
Thank goodness for technology. Earlier today, I found out that a solidarity rally was being held at the police station in Ottawa in support of those who were detained and treated poorly by police officers at the G2o protest in Toronto this past weekend. Having recently expressed my opinion on the subject, I thought I’d head out to the rally and try to find people who were in Toronto during the G20 protests and who might be able to share their opinions and accounts of what they saw and heard while they were there. I found Dan Murphy on Facebook and he agreed to tell me about his...
Read MoreThe G20 protests: Police brutality or proper crowd control?
In my last article, I wrote about my thoughts on the kind of revolution I’d like to see in our society. One that simply makes it so that individuals become more interested in self-development and in minding their own business to become better people rather than concern themselves with things that really don’t matter much in the end. I also expressed that I don’t feel that protesting is a very effective method of invoking change, particularly in politics here in Canada. I just haven’t seen enough evidence to back up the notion that demonstrations are useful. However,...
Read MoreGangs in Sudbury: another follow-up
A lot of you read my initial article about the youth street gang initiative that is taking place in Sudbury, even though there’s no evidence or confirmation that there are any organized gangs there. My article focused specifically on the poster being used by the Greater Sudbury Police because it depicted young children and babies in what appeared to be primarily hip hop clothing and accessories and in poses that made them look defiant. A lot of these kids were also non-Caucasian or of mixed race, greatly contradicting the demographic make-up of the Greater Sudbury area. Read the...
Read MoreWhat spoken word has taught me about women
I discovered the world of spoken word back in July 2009. That has easily become tied for the highlight of my life this year (tied with my decision to finally learn how to play the doumbek, a middle eastern hand drum). I was taken to a women’s spoken word event called Voices of Venus. There, I met fascinating poets and audience members who made me realize that this event and its location (Umi Cafe) are soon to become my new “home”. It was such an enlightening, refreshing, breathtaking experience to listen to women SPEAK UP. In August, I gave it a shot. I wrote a...
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