Quebec s plans to empty the local jail in anticipation of arrests of protesters at the Summit of the Americas next April, is provocation, Warren Allmand, President of Rights and Democracy, said today. Previous protests have revealed that the vast majority of demonstrators express their opinions in a peaceful manner.
Citizens have the right to demonstrate freely without fear of intimidation.
He urged the minister to ensure that police response in Quebec is graduated and proportional to disturbances involved. In recent years we have witnessed a worrisome trend where police almost automatically resort to the use of water cannons, tear gas and pepper spray to subdue more difficult demonstrators. Police must respect human rights in keeping with police ethics codes. The Quebec National Assembly has a role to play to ensure that civil liberties, freedom of speech and assembly are protected throughout the process leading up to and including the Summit. Mr. Allmand said.