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For Immediate Release

Montreal 9 March 2007

Police brutality mars Women's Day Celebration in Montreal

Police Assault Women at International Women's Day March

Yesterday, as Montrealers, along with many around the world celebrated International Women's Day - the event was marred by police brutality in which three young women were assaulted, injured and traumatized. Among the issues that were brought up during the speeches at Montreal's women's day march was that in Iran women were prevented from celebrating international women's day. And women in Pakistan were also attacked yesterday in a women's day event. Yesterday's events make ensure Montreal shares this distinction!

Marchers celebrating International Women's Day had walked from Place Emilie Gamelin (Berri Square) to Phillips Square, along Ste-Catherine Street. After speeches they made their way back to Berri Square. The police made an announcement asking people to walk on the sidewalk. Jaggi Singh, who had been one of many male supporters among the 200 strong celebrating international women's day moved onto the sidewalk. The others continued marching in the street. Police officers began to rush towards Singh, still walking on the sidewalk. They grabbed him and threw him against a nearby police car.

Other marchers gathered around the car out of concern for the violent way in which police were intervening. Police began hitting and pushing people indiscriminately. Several people were knocked to the ground with batons and night sticks. Emma Strople, a 17 year old marcher, was hit in the chest with the end of a night stick and thrown to the ground, by an officer later identified as Doyon. Her ribs were bruised, she was winded, trembling from shock and her knee was cut open enough that the blood seeped through her jeans. Two other women were also injured - one woman's lips and mouth were swollen and bleeding, from being punched in the face by a police officer; another left with cuts on her knee and stomach. The police showed a total disregard for the injuries mounting around them. They placed Jaggi Singh in the police car and began to leave. The marchers that remained left by Berri Metro.

The 8th March Committee of Women of Diverse Origins, one of the key groups involved in the march strongly denounces last night's police brutality yesterday and the arrest of Singh. Are we to go back to the time when women in Canada were not considered 'persons'? When women were to be seen and not heard? In Quebec today on the eve of an election we have seen how violence against women is still something that is trivialized, including by those that seek to represent us in the democratic system. Yesterday's police attack on women and their allies proves that even those who are supposed to be the guardians of the law and ensure gender equality, see women as people to be controlled with the threat and the use of violence. Women, as we struggle for equality are facing a backlash. How can we feel safe when the police themselves exhibit the violence that is endemic to patriarchy?

More than ever the police brutality of yesterday demonstrates that we have a long way to go; that women's struggles for equality that have always linked to improving the lives of our families and communities, ensuring democratic processes of equality and participation of ALL in the political process are constantly BLOCKADED by the state and its representatives. How can women seek assistance against the violence in their lives when those entrusted with their safekeeping are perpetrators of brutality and violence?

Last night's police violence is shameful and fearful. We demand that the City of Montreal and the government of Quebec immediately investigate the assaults and arrest of yesterday and that women, our allies and supporters feel safe and free to work in support of equality and justice.

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This type of police action against women, is the midway point only. One could consider war as being the current macro. Who knows what the macro could be, beyond that.

The micro is the mini-assaults that are verbally expressed through words use, intonation, and content, or even lack thereof, the ultimate patriarchial aloofness, of complete disregard of the viewpoint of women.

The action against Jaggi, IMV, was the by-proxy for women attending, and for those now viewing/reading what happened.

The women injured, appear to be the casualities of the attack against Jaggi, but in truth they are not, it is Jaggi who is the casualty, of the vicious attack upon women.

The optics would not have been good, had they directly attacked women. But the results are the same, women were attacked. This way, when it finally reaches the MSM, Jaggi can be used to explain the violence and that the women injured were an accidental occurance.

How many women are going to be motivated to join in solidarity, when it is truly going to be needed, when they have an example of what could happen to them?

How many women are going to be silenced in action and voice from this, or be empowered to do more?

It seems we must again start at the micro, to ensure the macro does not happen. It is apparent we cannot retreat into retired feminist enclaves, because we are tired of the skirmishes. Either we skirmish now, or we are going to have some helleva big battle(s) in the future.

Thank you for the information BCG.
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I looked around as well, no MSM reports.
Just one other reference, similiar to the one you mentioned (same poster even).

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So what exactly are you saying?

That if something isn't reported in the corporate media it didn't happen?

Really?

Or are you surprised that something of importance wasn't reported by the corporate media?

Really?

Extra! Extra! Read all about it police violence not reported.

There's an interview with a marcher who was there, on the CKUT link below. CKUT is a Montreal-based campus radio station and may in fact be an anarchist web site. It's definitely not the MSM.

Interview re IWD violence

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Originally posted by oreobw:
I looked around as well, no MSM reports.

Just one other reference, similiar to the one you mentioned (same poster even).

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Here's an idea. All the MSM web sites now have forums where you can discuss their stories. Why don't you go check them out, and discuss "real" news stories there?

This, on the other hand, is an alternative media site, where ordinary people are welcome to report the news that they see happening around them, and where activists are considered just as credible as anyone else. And the feminism forum on this site is a place where women can tell their stories without people demanding that they back it up with corporate media coverage.

[ 10 March 2007: Message edited by: oreobw ]

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Originally posted by oreobw:
I wasn't implying anything re MSM or otherwise,
I was just looking for more information.

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(I was actually hoping the story would be picked up).

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Originally posted by oreobw:
Read the post by...followed by mine... looking for other refs and so was I.

(I was actually hoping the story would be picked up)...

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PFRD, actually made a comment about it, as well as noting, that the MSM had not picked it up. How she came to any conclusion about it being a anarchist site she found it on, I have no idea, or what even the point of that obsevation was.

What you did was pick up only on the observation it was not noted elsewhere, made no comment about it at all, that would even suggest in any small way, that you hoped it would be picked up.

As I said, I was looking for more info. I just wanted to read more about what happened.

Hey oreobw, you should realize by now that you risk offending somebody any time you say something in public. The best thing to do is just say it, and if you think you said it wrong or somebody misunderstood you, then qualify it.

I, for one am not the least bit surprised the corporate media hasn’t reported anything on Montreal police attacking average working class protesters. Unless, it’s something that it can really sensationalize and get mileage with, you can bet there won’t be much interest in covering it.

The Montreal cops have a reputation of being pretty cavalier about resorting to brute force in dealing with people, especially protesters, demonstrators and picketers. So this latest atrocity, as sick and disgusting as it is, is sadly just another day in the life of that city.

Now, if those women they brutalized happened to be rich well-connected brats, well, then yep, that would have got news coverage. But since they are obviously just average Janes, it’s all in the wash.

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Were they after him for something specific, or is it that they just can’t get enough of a fun thing?

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ENOUGH!! A Woman's Place is NOT at home!

On Thursday 8th March, International Women's Day, Montreal police brutally attacked and injured three women who came to the aid of Jaggi Singh when the police arrested him at the annual Women's Day celebration in Montreal.

As the state spins it, Jaggi Singh is to blame for everything! We see it very differently. The arrest of Jaggi Singh and the brutalization of the
three women are inextricably linked. Jaggi Singh was there to celebrate International Women's Day with his sisters and got arrested.

As women we are very familiar with being blamed for our own victimization -- the woman who was raped 'asked for it', what was she doing out there
anyway? Why was she dressed like that? Milia Abrar who was murdered in Montreal in 1998 had challenged traditions. She asked for it. The missing women of British Columbia asked for it. The women at Ecole Polytechnique asked for it. The woman whose partner killed her asked for it. The women who were brutalized by the police on 8th March asked for it!

On 8th March 2007 in Montreal we were criminalized and brutalized for demanding equality. But we served notice long ago. ENOUGH!

What happened in Montreal on 8th March 2007 must be condemned. As women we must join other Montrealers marking the International Day Against
Police Brutality. Be there in numbers. The days when women were to be seen and not heard and when a woman's place was in the home have gone forever. We will not be silenced, we not will intimidated by police brutality and we will stand beside Jaggi Singh and all those who walk together with us in our on-going struggle for gender equality!

DEMONSTRATION: Thursday March 15th, 2007, at 5PM at SNOWDON metro. Bring banners, noise-makers.

Montreal Women Opposed to Police Brutality

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For more information on last week's events:

Solidarity across borders

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[ 13 March 2007: Message edited by: bigcitygal ]

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The optics would not have been good, had they directly attacked women. But the results are the same, women were attacked. This way, when it finally reaches the MSM, Jaggi can be used to explain the violence and that the women injured were an accidental occurance.

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Originally posted by Pride for Red Dolores:
or about the women who were injured/attacked ?

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No up-to-date report, but here are the Concordia and McGill student papers' stories - including a photo of some of Emma Strople's injuries:

Concordia "The Link"

[ 18 March 2007: Message edited by: Pride for Red Dolores ]

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Jaggi Singh released on $1,000 bail
Montreal Gazette
Published: Tuesday, March 13, 2007
A municipal court judge released Jaggi Singh on $1,000 bail today, saying the hefty bond could discourage his activism.

Singh had been in detention since Thursday when he was arrested at an evening march to celebrate International Women’s Day.

Police contend Singh violated a bail condition of not attending any illegal or unpeaceful demonstrations and if he’s at one that gets violent, he must leave.

Several witnesses today, including a Cégep professor and a medical resident at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, testified that the women’s day march was peaceful.

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[ 18 March 2007: Message edited by: Pride for Red Dolores ]

BCG-agreed.
The thing is though that he shouldn't be restricted from his right to free speech-ie support for women's movement which is what at least his most recent fine seems to do. On the other hand however, perhaps he shouldn't have attended if he knew that he would bring attention from the purpose of the march itself by doing something he's not allowed in front of a whole bunch of policemen..its not like he's unknown.
I wouldn't mind hearing from someone who was actually there.

[ 18 March 2007: Message edited by: Pride for Red Dolores ]

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Originally posted by Pride for Red Dolores:or about the women who were injured/attacked ?

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Originally posted by Pride for Red Dolores:
Got it now Cueball-thanks !

BCG-agreed.
The thing is though that he shouldn't be restricted from his right to free speech-ie support for women's movement which is what at least his most recent fine seems to do. On the other hand however, perhaps he shouldn't have attended if he knew that he would bring attention from the purpose of the march itself by doing something he's not allowed in front of a whole bunch of policemen..its not like he's unknown.
I wouldn't mind hearing from someone who was actually there.

[ 18 March 2007: Message edited by: Pride for Red Dolores ]

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Come on! Its International Women's Day, its not like a globalization protest. This kind of thing is about on par with yearly labour demos on Labour Day. There is no history of confrontations with the police.

[ 18 March 2007: Message edited by: Pride for Red Dolores ]

[ 18 March 2007: Message edited by: Pride for Red Dolores ]

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Suharto Demo, FTAA and now Womens's Day 2007 Its all about Mr.(I don't court the media) Singh. Oh look, another issue and the issue becomes about Jaggi Singh!

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Hey, ever consider a career writing garbage for the Nazi Post?

The issue isn't about Jaggi Singh. It's about the cops attacking someone who is not breaking any laws, attending a legal demonstration, throwing him into a police car and taking him God knows where--while pummeling three other innocent people in the process.

Now you may or may not be a fan of democracy. But doesn't that concern you even in the slightest?

It doesn't matter whether Singh courts the media, has a big mouth, acts like a buffoon at times, stands on his head, etc. The fact is he is supposed to have the legal right of freedom of speech, movement and association by attending a peaceful rally—which the IWD demo clearly was.

What the cops did was not only blatantly violate his rights, but the rights of the others who were hurt and indirectly everyone else’s rights there as well. He clearly had done nothing wrong and was simply targeted for who he was by cops who clearly had a personal grind against him.

I would also like to remind folks, in case anyone’s forgotten, that the police force is funded by our collective working class dollars, not by the corporate elite. The fact that it often seems to exist more to suppress our rights and freedoms and threaten our safety, instead of protecting them, is the real injustice.

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ENOUGH!! A Woman's Place is NOT at home!

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Obviously, the Montreal police, in their own way, might agree. So far, they seem to think it’s in the hospital.

there's a few links above-they have the info

[ 20 March 2007: Message edited by: Pride for Red Dolores ]