 
After Receiving Apology, Protesters Go to Court After receiving an apology from the Toronto police for having detained them in an "extremely uncomfortable" van with "poor ventilation, excessive temperature, ... and lack of washroom facilities", two teenaged protesters are going to court to challenge the legality of their having been arrested in the first place. The young men who were hoping to take part in an anti-poverty demonstration in Toronto during the fall of 2001, were stopped and searched at a police checkpoint. Upon finding goggles, a "gas mask", and vinegar-soaked handkerchiefs, police arrested the boys for "breach of the peace" and held them in that van for almost 8 hours. CCLA assisted the teenagers in filing complaints and navigating the process. Many months later, the Toronto police apologized to them for detaining them so long in such uncomfortable circumstances. Now CCLA is seeking to challenge the propriety of the initial arrest. According to Special Counsel Bradley Berg, the complainants "did nothing illegal and did not possess any weapons or other prohibited items". The case will be heard in the Ontario Superior Court. | CCLA In The Schools | Join Us | Feedback | Search | Other Interesting Sites | Home |
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