Politics
Thursday March 27, 2003
PRO-LIFE AND PRO-ABORTION BOTH CONDEMN POLICE REQUEST FOR PROTEST PENALTIES
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TORONTO, March 27, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Toronto Police Chief Julian Fantino wants his force to have more control over demonstrators since anti-war rallies have become more violent and alarming in recent years. Fantino is asking the federal government to amend the Criminal Code to strengthen the hand of police with "deterrent sentences" for offences committed at rallies and demonstrations.
Under the plan, says the Toronto Star, individuals or groups with a "history of violence or abuse at a demonstration would be disqualified from getting a protest permit" for two years or more, and would be obliged to post a bond before getting the go-ahead to stage a protest.
Both sides of the abortion debate felt the police chief was targeting them. "I don't like it one bit," said Jim Hughes, national president of the Campaign Life Coalition. "This is crazy, a no-brainer ... I may not like what someone is going to protest, but I defend their right to," Hughes said.
The Toronto pro-life movement reports that it has always demonstrated peacefully but has complained of many false arrests, rough treatment and bias from some police officers. Leaders also recall experiences of other officers more professionally protecting pro-lifers from threats of pro-abortion violence.
The secretive police complaints process has consistently been found to overwhelmingly favour officers who violate required procedures. Pro-life leaders say that the situation has not improved since Fantino took over as the new police chief. The chief has not responded to numerous letters or phone calls from pro-life leaders to discuss these and related issues.
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On the pro-abortion side, Marilyn Wilson of the Canadian Abortion Rights Action League, said the idea is an affront to "free speech in our society."
For local coverage:
http://www.thestar.ca/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Ty...
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