Winnipeg Copwatch

Two days ago marked the 12^th annual International Day against Police Brutality. It began in 1997 as a joint initiative by the Montreal Collectif Opposé à la Brutalité Policière (Collective Opposed to Police Brutality) and the Black Flag group in Switzerland in response to the beating deaths of two children, aged 11 and 12 by Swiss police.

March 15^th 2008 began in a parking lot located near the corner of Logan and Main street. People began arriving close to 6pm and it was already obvious that police were present. There were two police cruisers on Main Street looking onto the parking lot, and two to three more circling around the backlane to the parking lot which was where people were congregating. A man in a white van with tinted windows was also spotted across on the west side of Main Street taking photos then returning to his vehicle when spotted and pointed out.

The following is a write up from Jo Redsky from the march.

I just wanted to let everyone know on March 15, Saturday afternoon I
attended an “International Day Against Police Brutality March” held by
Cop Watch, a non-profit Organization to watch and observe, educate
people if one believes they are being treated unfairly by the Police.
The event was held in Downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba. I invited my cousin
Marlene to join me in this event. As the March continued, I was in the
crowd marching, my cousin Marlene in her Pick up truck following behind
the march, was suddenly stopped by the Winnipeg Police. More police
officers surrounded the pick up truck, indicating a complete stop.
Marlene at the time of incident was using her “flashers”, to signify she
was driving leisurely behind. I noticed fellow marchers reacting to the
sudden stop of her truck, by the Winnipeg Police. I started towards the
confrontation, confused to why the police would stop my cousin, who has
never participated in a march like this before, was being stopped for
questioning.
“My cousin knows of the real problems we face. Let us look at the
Brutality Matthew Dumas, and JJ Harper, faced from passed cruelty and
violence brought to you by THE POLICE, and what our Anishanabe people
face in everyday city and rural injustice, discrimination of the law of
peace and justice or to “Serve And To Protect”.

I screamed and hollowed at the police to leave Marlene alone, but the
one officer asked Marlene if she would present her registration and
driver’s license. I asked the officer to explain what Marlene was doing
wrong. In a quick reaction I took up my hand drum and sang, to signify
that racism was upon this episode, and then with out notice another
woman joined me with her hand drum, to use as our only weapon of
protection, we continued to sing; meanwhile our noble and righteous
Winnipeg Police was becoming agitated by our presents of song. I started
to move forward from adrenaline. Marlene was still detained right at the
spot, so I proceeded to go back to where Marlene was and was confronted
by another police officer who stated to me that if I didn’t move on, I
would be ticketed for being off the sidewalks, while the marchers were
observed everywhere, from sidewalk, to street.

An unknown Cop Watch lady, came forward between an officer and me and
said lets not be intimidate by his actions of sour mouth (police). The
now eight (8) Police officers were surrounding me like I was a fugitive
of crime, like I was secured for a hostile invader.

“I was one of many native woman standing up for my views of police
injustice while there were a dozen WPS surrounding me, like I was a
threat. I just moved on the March to the old Remand Center, and then
stopped for 20 minutes spoke. I was really upset now. I thought and
spoke about Connie and Ty Jacobs who were murdered by the police in
Alberta. I want to plan a memorial at the R.C.M.P, Division D
headquarters on Portage Ave, Saturday March 22, 2008, at 2 pm. It has
now been 10 years since Connie and Ty Jacobs were killed by aggressive
force. Ty Jacobs will be 19 years old today. We want the abuse and
violence to our people to stop, so lets get rid of the “Eliminate the
Indian problem!” mentality.

In Sisterhood,
Jo Redsky
Wolf clan

Winnipeg Copwatch will also be attending the memorial for Connie and Ty Jacobs on March 22. Ty Jacbos would have been 19 a few days ago. The memorial will take place at the RCMP Div-D HQ at Portage Ave and Dominion Street.