Toronto – G20 Police tactics – The Miami model

The Toronto Dominion News Co-operative has compliled 6 videos of police violence in Toronto over the weekend.

Add one more journalist to the number who were attacked or detained. In the final video TO Police Chief Bill Blair is asked about the incident at a news conference. He get’s a little testy and circular.

I’ve covered my share of crowds and protests. You go in hyper-vigilent, tuned to anger, panic, sudden movement. As quickly as a crowd can turn ugly, so can police.
What has changed is reliance on media only to get the story out. The public now has the power and ability to film, voice and present their experiences to us, the wider audience.

I think we witnessed the Miami model. It was all there this weekend and prior to this weekend. Dehumanizing, intimidation, pre-emptive arrests, neutral party arrests (ie: media, legal observers) kettling, agent provocateurs, justification, propaganda war, lying, refusal to publicly apologize, admit mistakes and behaviors, job well done message by police and police as victim. 40 assessment points have been identified in this model. How many did you see and hear?

Toronto went beyond security and protest theatre and I am one Canadian who doesn’t like what I saw.
The battle moves to the court of public opinion, the halls of power and the courts. Police accomplished their main goal, with a billion dollars, over 19 thousand officers, equipment and legal powers. They kept people away from the fence. It would be helpful if the chain of command got the ‘how’ part of their story straight. When they can’t they have a wired and plugged in public to help them. Let’s hope we all pay attention. Police burned by protesters.

During the 2001 Summit of the Americas in Quebec City, the security fence became the flashpoint for protesters and led to violent clashes with police. Tear gas was also fired far into the crowds, reaching not just the groups bent on anarchy but igniting panic as peaceful protesters were left gasping.

Although tear gas was used Saturday it was done sparingly during “muzzle blasts” rather than the overpowering canisters of tear gas, Toronto police spokesperson Const. Wendy Drummond said.

Chief Blair disputed claims that rubber bullets had been used and said somewhat testily that he was aware that had been “twittered” by a number of people.

“That, like much of the information put out by these anarchists, was misinformation in order to mislead the public and the media.”

However, Const. Tim Garland confirmed early Sunday that plastic bullets, pepper spray guns and ARWEN launchers, which shoot a special kind of bean bag or plastic projectiles, have been deployed against protesters.

In many ways Saturday was a battle of strategy between the violent protesters and police.
Some felt police tactics were too harsh, and questioned how police appeared to lose control. Others believe after a week of expecting the worst, the violence was not as bad as expected.

The 40 points of the Maimi model are below the fold. How many did you see, hear, observe for the G8/20?Miami Model Checklist

• Establishment of joint, unified, multi-agency command/control network.
• Mass purchase of surveillance equipment, riot gear and other supplies.
• Training of local law enforcement in “crowd control tactics” and less lethal weapons.
• Public relations, “information warfare”, newspeak/spin:
• “terrorists/violent protesters coming” vs “well trained officers”.
• “event meaningful target for terrorism.”
• “police will protect the right to protest.”
• “anarchists and criminal elements, dramatic Seattle WTO or London imagery.
• display of confiscated “weapons” prove malintent.
• “unpermitted protests can continue” due to “police good will”.
• independent media targeted, cameras, video confiscated.
• “job well done, we beat the violent protesters, thank you city”.
• Pro-event/anti-demonstrator promotional tools developed/used in community.
• Reluctant officials, civic groups pressured to comply with plan by Secret Service/DHS.
• Locations strategically valuable to protesters reserved by law enforcement.
• Plans to secure public buildings and strategic private businesses complete.
• Anti-protest ordinances and other legal hurdles to prevent lawful assembly begin.
• State of Emergency declared or Executive Order signed to allow military policing.
• Surveillance, harassment and disruption of protest organizers begins.
• Attempts to divide protest groups and organizers begins in media and meetings.
• Court system tied up: regular business delayed during protest; assist mass arrests.
• Mass detention facilities identified and prepped for use.
• Civic groups and clubs employed to support law enforcement activities.
• March and event permits denied or delayed; empty promises; delay tactics.
• Police/military collaborate with corporate media, ie. embedded reporters, etc.
• Street level surveillance increases on organizers and demonstrators.
• Public training drills and mass show of force.
• Sporadic harassment, detention and arrest of demonstrators traveling in area.
• Disruption of organizing/assembly/housing/media spaces. Possible preemptive arrest.
• Command Center operational; large undercover teams begin reporting
• Militarized “hard zone” and limited access “soft zone” created with fences, barricades.
• Area wide surveillance video, including 3-D video systems operational.
• Field forces (riot police, bike police, checkpoints, etc.) put into place.
• Day of protest: assembly blocked, obstructed, redirected.
• Illegal mass detentions and arrest.
• Precipitous violent event coordinated with major news cycle.
• Use of less-lethal weapons – projectiles, chemical weapons, electric weapons, sound devices etc.
• Streets cleared using force; protesters pursued; more mass arrest.
• Jail solidarity events allowed to protest for few hours, then cleared.