Pro-Palestinian protest organizers in Calgary are accusing the Calgary Police Service (CPS) of targeting them and using excessive force during their protests. Groups such as Justice for Palestinians, Independent Jewish Voices Calgary, Watermelon Foundation for Justice, and the Calgary Student movement claim that organizers have faced discrimination, double standards in the application of the law, and abuse of power by CPS and city bylaw officers. They specifically cited an incident on September 15th at Tompkin’s Park where 12 tickets were issued and three people were arrested during what they described as a peaceful protest. However, CPS stated that event organizers refused to collaborate with them, leading to enforcement steps to ensure safety for all participants.
The protesters believe that this incident is part of a pattern of behavior from authorities. In May, protesters at the University of Calgary were calling for funding transparency and divestment from companies with ties to Israel. When police were called in to dismantle the encampment, tensions escalated, with objects being thrown at officers leading to the use of non-lethal weapons. The organizers claim that it was another peaceful protest and that they were cooperating with the police, but still, a number of protesters were injured in the altercations. They have stated that they will be pursuing lawsuits and human rights complaints against the City of Calgary and CPS, demanding an independent inquiry into discrimination and abuse of power by the Calgary police.
The Palestinian protest organizers have submitted Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) requests to CPS to gain information on how their rallies were handled. They are also calling on the Calgary Police Commission to hold the police service accountable for their actions. CPS maintains that their actions are dictated by protester behavior and they have worked successfully with various protest organizers to facilitate peaceful and lawful protests. According to CPS, there has been a significant increase in protests, demonstrations, and rallies since 2019, with 42 percent of them requiring police intervention between January 2023 and May 2024 to ensure the safety of participants, the public, and officers.
The organizers are accusing CPS of escalating situations unnecessarily and using excessive force against pro-Palestinian protesters. They believe that there needs to be accountability for the actions of the police and that an independent inquiry is necessary to address the discrimination and abuse of power that they have experienced. By pursuing legal action and human rights complaints, they hope to shed light on the treatment they have received and seek justice for those who have been injured during their protests. The organizers are determined to continue their fight for justice and accountability from the authorities in Calgary.
In response to the allegations, CPS maintains that their actions are based on protester behavior and that they have worked successfully with other protest organizers to ensure peaceful and lawful demonstrations. They refute claims of discrimination and abuse of power, stating that their priority is to uphold the safety of all participants, including demonstrators, motorists, and officers. Despite the differences in perspective between the organizers and CPS, the ongoing protests and demonstrations in Calgary highlight the importance of addressing issues of police conduct, accountability, and the rights of protesters in the community.
