Report Finds Police Worldwide Criminalize Dissent, Assert New Powers in Crackdown on Protests

[marmar]

Published on Oct 10, 2013

http://www.democracynow.org - In a major new report, the International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations details a global crackdown on peaceful protests through excessive police force and the criminalization of dissent. The report, "Take Back The Streets: Repression and Criminalization of Protest Around the World," warns of a growing tendency to perceive individuals exercising a fundamental democratic right -- the right to protest -- as a threat requiring a forceful government response. The case studies detailed in this report show how governments have reacted to peaceful protests in the United States, Israel, Canada, Argentina, Egypt, Hungary, Kenya, South Africa and Britain. The report's name comes from a police report filed in June 2010 when hundreds of thousands of Canadians took to the streets of Toronto to nonviolently protest the G20 Summit. A senior Toronto Police Commander responded to the protests by issuing an order to "take back the streets." Within a span of 36 hours, more than 1,000 people -- peaceful protesters, journalists, human rights monitors and downtown residents -- were arrested and placed in detention. We are joined by three guests: the report's co-editor, Abby Deskman, a lawyer and program director with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association; Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union; and Hossam Bahgat, an Egyptian human rights activist and the founder and executive director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights.

[efhmc]

1. This is nothing new. It is same old same old.

[indepat]

2. The establishment will not tolerate the impertinence of the citizenry by questioning its

policies, actions, and wars of aggression.

[munster69]

3. The militarization of police after 9-11

and the repeal of the Posse Comitatus Act sends a loud and clear message, don't mess with big brother.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. This tells you there is world wide planning going on.

As Corporatism has spread, so has dissent followed by the increasing police state tactics.
It isn't "just US"
and it ain't "Justice" either.

[DeSwiss]

5. But it's normal in fascism.....

...for the police to protect the patriarchate.





K&R

[BillyRibs]

6. But when people post this

Kind of news here , they are called Tin Foil Hats. Myself included. Many of you do not mean to be so cruel it Just you are so steeped in the religion of the state, so blinded by the pols you love that you accept what they say as dogma, and attack those who would question what they do as heretics! so much so it's part of the By laws of DU. I will always remember the words of Rev. Martin Niemöller;



First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the socialists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for me,
and there was no one left to speak for me.

The day is coming, when Sadly I will be proved right. That's the day I will truly hate the most.

[dotymed]

7. The world, especially the once "democratic" nations

look to America for guidance on many things, how "we" handle protestors is one of those.

America has militarized it's police, under corporate guidance. This makes a true Democracy non-existent. The other countries, again spurred by corporatism (nothing to help the people) have followed suit.
Unless we treat these wealthy people as the small minority they are, this will only get worse.
Just like in the 1920's through the 1930's the elite preferred to pay the Pinkertons to maintain the status quo than to allow workers to Unionize and have freedoms.
The resurgence of the Robber Barons is here. So is the repression that they enforce.

Only real changes can stop this injustice. With a SCOTUS that equates money with speech and corporations as people the only way to begin this change (for Democracy) is to overturn the corporate sponsored "Citizens United", either legislatively (no hope there), by "packing" the SCOTUS or impeaching the profiteers on this life-time appointed "court" which legislates from the bench since the neo-con take-over.
Either that or another World War for freedom. That I do not hope for.

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

8. Tough choices

all..........................