Attention Assignment editors
Ottawa The Canadian Union of public Employees (CUPE) has joined with the Solidarity Network in calling for a public inquiry into the suppression of dissent around the Summit of the Americas.
We have heard stories of abduction of protesters who were peacefully demonstrating, we have also heard that many protesters were being dropped off in the middle of nowhere after being released from jail, there have been reports of women being strip searched in front of male officers, said Judy Darcy, National President of CUPE.
What happened in Quebec threatens the very notion that we live in a democratic state. The right to dissent was suppressed and protesters faced the brutality of the security forces if they dared exercise their right to dissent. This is not acceptable and the federal government must assume its responsibilities for having allowed such a repressive response to protesters, added Darcy.
This inquiry must explore the actions taken and methods used by government and government agencies to suppress dissent, the underlying and systemic causes of this suppression, the public health and environmental impacts of the methods used, and the consequences for the future of our democratic institutions and practices, concluded Darcy.
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For more information:
Pam Beattie (613) 237-1590 ext. 221
Catherine Louli (613) 237-1590 ext. 268 or (613) 851-0547 mobile