2 May 2007, Cops Use Excessive Force @ Barrick Gold's AGM

[rappy7]

Um, since when is standing in a sidewalk trespassing? She wasn't threatening anyone. Why did police feel this person should be arrested?

[woofmanning123]

how did this creep pass the personality test, imagine if his wife pissed him off???

[Billythewookie]

The question here is why she was arrested (aside from the obvious resisting arrest) the force used was exactly proportional to the resistance received. This was practically textbook. Where she was standing when the officer placed his hand on her is significant.

[thenat320]

looks good on you !

[merryprankster60]

I'm so sorry this happened to you ... the cops were way over the top here ...

[merryprankster60]

hey sakura ... ya gotta start wearing the ol' black suit when confronting these guys ... I mean the Bay St Suits ...

[missnluvyou2010]

Bravo Sakura..... no one still knows what point you were trying to get across other than you looking like a fool. Hopefully you'll learn from this experience. 

[missnluvyou2010]

Then you have to post your video on Youtube to try and gain sympathy and ride the wave of bleeding heart liberalism to become a 30 second celebrity for whatever mindless "cause" they are representing. Looks to me the police used just the amount of force needed to effect the arrest without injuring themselves or poor little Sakura, who by the way continued to use passive resistance after being cuffed and continued to run her mouth.

[sakuras1979]

@missnluvyou2010 you say that I used passive resistance like that is a bad thing. Yes, I went limp. Yes, I was taken by surprise. Yes, I was illegally searched by the police (they are supposed to have females search me). What's worse is that the guy that walked up and asked them to not use excessive force - HE GOT STRIPED SEARCH. (And btw – strip searching is a nice way of saying that he was forced to get naked and grab his ankles while they searched his anus).

[missnluvyou2010]

Sakura Saunders should've listened to the peaceful cops and left the area when she was told to. But noooo, it's not in the "Bleeding Heart Liberal" handbook to comply with the police. You have to argue your senseless point and then kick and scream and resist when the police arrest you after giving you numerous chances to comply.

[mk7mk77]

Barrick gold struck it rich in 2001 connect the dots. The gold is not being mined it's being laundered. Straight from NYC. Peace.

[STiNGFiST77]

this is canada we dont need no american fuck ups coming to our country to protest. keep your bs down there. we should deport all pussies like this girl.

[STiNGFiST77]

good job police keep these pussy ass protestors off our fuckin streets

[STiNGFiST77]

ppl do realize that the true reason for police is to police the sidewalk and roadway. i cant say it any better then that caz im drunk but do some real researcha nd youll find what im talking about.

[ackgra]

The side walk is public .They did not seem to be block peoples access to building or pedestrian traffic.That big ugly cop in the mini skirt seemed to have a problem handling that little girl know wonder they don't take on real criminals.

[jerv41]

Ok bleeding heart liberals listen up. She was on private property and Section 41 of the Criminal Code of Canada clearly states: You can use as much force as necessary to remove a trespasser. She was resistive and that is deemed assault as per the ciriminal code of Canada. Stop listening to Jack Layton and the Liberal hug-a-thug party. I hate this country. Everyone has an opinion but no one has an educated or experienced opinion. Fuckin bleeding heart liberals. Fuck you all!

[sakuras1979]

@jerv41 actually, I found out later that there is a strip of public property there. the cops lied to me.

[jendrixhendrix]

Nothing wrong with that AT ALL. He warned her numeous times that it ws private property and she needed to move across the road to where it was not private property and she could continue her protest there. She refused and he said he was going to arreste her in that case. She stood her ground. He went to arrest her, she went to run off, he grabbed her and put her in handcuffs. Whats the issue? Because she's a woman? Female criminals should be treated differnet?

[jaspers2carrots]

Of course the americans don't see anything wrong here. US police probably would have punched the fuck out of her before throwing her in the car.

[jendrixhendrix]

@jaspers2carrots yeah, and raped her too probably. They love that kinda stuff. Killing babies on their days off and stuff. Yep, all of 'em.

[edimk25]

i would love to fuck d Chinese chick

[NYBobby75]

she was told to leave, she did'nt, she resisted and this is what happens. when your given an order, you cannot negotiate. stupid.

[brokedownbutalive]

@NYBobby75 you have no idea what the conversation was. Why did the cop sneak up next to her to surprise her? You have no idea their intentions and are extremely naive to think that this wouldn't happen to you for some equally minor infraction, jaywalking perhaps... when you are in a public place, "orders" are irrelevant. not to mention Cops are not legally allowed to arbitrarily order around citizens... they are required to enforce law, not be dickheads.

[jendrixhendrix]

@brokedownbutalive she was trespassing on private property. That’s a law they were enforcing??

[IronfistedPriest]

haha 1 of the officers in yellow has a hitler stache thats ironic

[avedawg123456]

these cops are just board and just looking for trouble look how many showed up for twp small women holding fliers

[SavageSS2010]

Ummm, she was told to leave,, the cops have to arrest her if she refuses,, she resisted,, its kinda on her...Its not like they beat piss out of her.

[merryprankster60]

sakura and natalie ... I'm so sorry this happened to you guys ... there's safety in numbers, usually ... gotta get more of us out there when these demos take place ... and gotta find ppl with shares in barrick so that we can get into the meetings ...

[merryprankster60]

sakura and natalie ... I'm so sorry this happened to you guys ... there's safety in numbers, usually ... gotta get more of us out there when these demos take place ... and gotta find ppl with shares in barrick so that we can get into the meetings ... I haven't commented to this vid in a while, but I just saw the film Cry for the Andes, in which you and Paul figure rather prominently in the beginning ... excellent film!

[merryprankster60]

sakura and natalie ... I'm so sorry this happened to you guys ... there's safety in numbers, usually ... gotta get more of us out there when these demos take place ... and gotta find ppl with shares in barrick so that we can get into the meetings ... I haven't commented to this vid in a while, but I just saw the film Cry for the Andes, in which you and Paul figure rather prominently in the beginning ... excellent film!

[cpe111]

Don't see what the cops did wrong here.

[OverseasCat]

Thank you Natalie for this video, showing these cowardly assholes employing excessive force, at the behest of their masters at Barrick Gold. David in the Dominican Republic....

[blakeyonthebuses]

whenever you see 'police' you now worry! surely thats wrong?

[ludeluver]

this is why alot of police enjoy beating their wives at home, because they just beat up yours !! Male police especially get a rush out of forcing control on women, it is as close to rape in public as you can get. He LOVED grabbing her throat to force her into the car, he was probably ROCK SOLID, later when the cameras are not looking they will likely abuse her more and more, the LUST they have over DOMINATING other humans is unquenchable and knows no limits.

[0Latitude]

To protect and serve... the biggest lie in America.

[0Latitude]

@0Latitude And apparently in Canada too.

[MAGNNUM]

Police don't need to negotiate. If they tell you to leave because you are trespassing then you leave or else you get arrested. That's the only negotiation they are supposed to follow...

[Trevtc]

resisting. How many times do the cops have to explain it to you?!? Move on and this never would have happened.

[brokedownbutalive]

@edimk25 hey dumbass, public place means it is for the public. IDIOT. learn how to spell or at least correct your typos.

[MAGNNUM]

hmmmm...two officers handcuffing her arms, another simply subduing her feet so she does not kick...the officers not resorting to arresting them until they refused to leave......where exactly was the excessive force used??? It looked like regular police procedure to me...if you refuse to leave after the police direct you to; then you get arrested; it's not hard to figure out!!!

[blakeyonthebuses]

@MAGNNUM cock, i'd like to see you in her place

[haydsta1]

Excessive force? Activists are crazy...

[wq1299]

Excessive force?? Looked like resisting arrest to me

[0synesthete0]

fuck these pigs oink oink

[kupay]

bitches be craaazy!

[ladyarndt]

excessive force!? what a bunch of bullschwa! The cops told her to leave. She didn't. She gets arrested. End of story!

[medicyash88]

@ladyarndt

absolutely. another reason to no mess with cops. Media often portrays the wrong message. look at the story from the COP's end

[SnuffDizz]

They forgot to duct tape her mouth

[medicyash88]

@SnuffDizz

hahahaha. true i agree

[berettaman092]

"excessive force" my ass

[norhamdan1985]

over reacting whore.

lol @ anybody that is stupid enough to abuse freedom of speech with a cop. It is a cop. You think you are going to smart mouth a cop? What a dumby.

[j2times2006]

@norhamdan1985 well maybe not a whore but she overeacted.

[AustralianMafia]

nicee...i hate chinese ppl

[agrotis79]

one of those dumb cops could have gotten a swift kick to the face...he was only holding one of her feet while being cuffed then after 10 seconds it dawned on him to hold both of her feet.....lol

[guitfdlr]

How do you trespass on a sidewalk? All of this because a banker wanted it done. Sad

[philipckchan95]

did you hear those pigs

at 2:00, one said

"if you want to negotiate, get a VISA FOR THIS COUNTRY"

they're disgusting.

[markhazzard]

actually it was "if you want to challenge it, get arrested"

[schoenfeld01]

you guys are idiots!!! If you're breaking the law and the police tell you to move and stop trespassing and you don't, you'll get arrested...PERIOD!!!! The police don't have to "negotiate peacefully". She got what she deserved...stop your whinning.

[2242bzo]

Welcome to the new world order. You are free to do as you are told.

[dp939]

I worked Security at the MTCC for eleven years including when this event happened. I think I may have been dispatched initially to tell her to leave. This form of protest is not abnormal at MTCC. If you watch the video with an impartial view, you will notice that she is still refusing to leave the property when directed. Businesses do not "sick" the cops on people. If cops arrives it is because one is not being civil and operating within their own rights of a civilized world. She resists arrest

[jshintoth]

wow he actually choked her there at the end. that scum should be fired. pigs their the scum of the earth. uneducated people that couldnt get into college and had no other options.

[agrotis79]

This is very TRUE. I'm not against cops but A LOT of police officers are former security guards. Basically did not aggressively pursuit a Post Secondary education and therefore needed a SECURE OCCUPATION and a descent paying one at that. And the reason I say this is because I worked in the Headquarters of that organization A LONG TIME AGO...so I know exactly what the hiring is like.

[bhogpur007]

these motherfukker cops should be arrested for the way they touching a female. Toronto police got soo many lay officers but they dont wanna call them coz they perverts. Mother fukers

[Zeerotoo]

Cops did nothing wrong. They acted clean, quick and professional. She got what she deserved. Arrested for trespassing, fail to leave when directed. Period.

[agrotis79]

You are right on that assumption. That officer is treading in dangerous territory....if that female accused of him of sexually touching her. He'd be in deep trouble. You can see from 3:40 and on in the flick that he has his hands on her lower body...that can be interpreted in any sexual way. Usually female officers handle these arrests...but it looks like none were around.  So basically it has to be 2+ male officers making the arrest. Never does a male officer arrest a female alone.

[mumstepper]

Some people do not listen to police commands. If you want to argue. Become a lawyer, go to the courts and argue your case there. When you are trespassing and a police officer requests that you leave the premises. Whether you think you have the right or not. Leave...avoid all confrontation.

Come back another day when you are 100% in the right. Going face to face with a cop that puts up with enough B.S. during any given day is not the way to do it.

[scubanecky]

lmfao scream scream tree hugger scream lol now your busted lol

[Pepper85]

good job t.o. cops cant wait to join

[KrisYYZ]

While I agree with your cause, I disagree with your actions. First you trespassed onto private property instead of staying on public land. Second resisted arrest which is a criminal offense.

[gault72]

I see no problem, if you go against the grain of progress and greed you will be arrested. Its always been this way. We are all doomed.

[mumstepper]

Excessive force my ass. How long is too long?

The cops were more than patient with these "ladies"(???) Then it is time to act and that is

arresting them. No other alternative. You get arrested when you do not listen to police officers. They are not there to support your cause. Then when you resist you just happen to be subjected to physical force. Don't move..they move you. Point..end of point.

Get it morons????

[fdparis18]

umm if u know ur rights cops cant take them away! they werent doing nething but being slightly annoying so whatever. if michael moore can walk in buildings and do his business without getting arrested then so can they

so u can jus lay down and let cops lie to you're face but as for me im gonna learn every last one of my rights bc cops cant be trusted cuz they all human jus like u and me

[orugadeoro]

very very good cops!!!, this woman are stupid!!!, meaby she need a litles punchs in shes face!!!

[GumboWatches]

What a stupid protestor. What did you think would happen after you refused to leave. He uses hardly any force, you just screamed for attention. You were like a little kid having to be dragged to bed screaming for being in a mood.

[Vishuss70]

Ya had a chance to leave like you were asked. Ya chose not to...ya see what happens.

[Losangelous]

wow nice shorts cop. god that was ridiculous no need for that

[squeekycat]

As a child I was taught to believe the police are here to "serve and protect" THE PUBLIC. Of course those last 2 words have been left out of their slogan; I have since learned that is intentional. Their real mandate is to protect those with the most money and power, not the greater good of society. Anyone who assumes otherwise does so at their peril, as is demonstrated over and over again.

[tbroomey]

Who sits here filming this crap?

[PLPix]

i dont see excessive force, wtf did you want the cops to do? put her in pillow cuffs. nevertheless FUCK THA POLICE.

[craigpig123]

Tresspass to property act I suggest those 2 review it they were breaking the law and then made matters worse by being non compliant! the officers gave them a chance to leave and were being patient enough!

[Mockingbirdkids]

restraints and no they didn't comply because if a person complies that means that you can tell them to turn around put their hands behind their back floating in the air with their thumbs up, spread their feet double shoulder width apart lean forward at the waist and look away from there officer. If the women walked away then none of this would have happened so TPS did an excellent job

[Mockingbirdkids]

PPC use of force taught by OPC is open hand control techniques,

tactical communicating and officer presence. The officers used a method called Time = distance and stood in the correct interviewing stance taught by PPC standards at OPC. They were also anticipating a violent attack because they were taught the signs of possible attack are things like yelling, not complying, emotional venting, mode changes (all present as the women are yelling at the officers around 1:56) The women were placed in

[Mockingbirdkids]

Ok where was the part about this being excessive? Here's what I saw happen. These people were handing out there reports on private property. An occupier of the premises phoned the police to ask them to exercise the trespass to property act for prohibited activity on property (probably after asking them or sending someone to ask them) the police came asked them to move they didn't. They used to non complaint non violent resistance (called passive resistance) to which the appropriate level of

[grock5000]

It would have been better if he cracked that bitch over her head with his baton. Earth First! We'll mine other planets later!

[firebird403]

She's resisting as well. What a moron. The officers did everything right. If you resist or increase your physical protest they elevate their level of physical response to get you in cuffs or car. God almighty help the public.

[hoooley1]

fucking pigs r shit where you live

[PitViper10101]

Well, seems that those rose colored glasses are on in full force. You should change the title to "Sakura resists arrest" She disagreed with Police and was treated like anyone else would be when being placed under arrest. Excessive?? You obviously don't understand the term. By the way, if you wish to educate yourself refer to the Ontario Use of Force model, learn what it means, and then look again. Attacked? Not a chance. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse to resist a lawful arrest.

[ForNowVision]

By law the footpath is PUBLIC property. It is also illegal for a male policeman to feel up a woman. And since when is it legal for a police officer to choke someone?

The other person who got arrested and strip searched for peacefully telling the cops they were using excessive force on Sakura has now got the opportunity to sue the cops as the case against this person was thrown out of court.

[markhazzard]

You need to do a little more research. The property she was on belongs to the Metro Toronto Convention Center...they own the property right up to the curb...don't believe me..do your homework.

[cherryblossom1979]

hey! this is sakura! for the record, I was just explaining the situation to the people who worked at the bldg (in suits) when the cop attacked me. Before that I was just asking for a note explaining that the sidewalk was private property (which the cops said it was), promising to go away once they just wrote down their request. Worse, this guy told them to stop using excessive force on me, and they arrested him, gave him criminal charges, and then made him get naked and grab his ankles!

[markhazzard]

Sakura, the officer did not attack you, he arrested you. Living in Calif. you don't understand Canadian Law...you don't have to be advised in writing..verbally being told to leave private property is sufficient. Next time just leave when your told.

[cherryblossom1979]

well... I had bruises for weeks afterwards, 2 1/2 hour in tight handcuff left my wrists swollen for a day. Oh, and as it turns out, the edge of that sidewalk IS considered a public walkway, which is likely why he didn't arrest me until I stepped forward to talk to those 2 men. It is also clearly against the law in Canada for men to search woman, which they did for almost a full minute.

[markhazzard]

The edge of the sidewalk you refer to is the curb....the travelled portion of the sidewalk or in this case 'everything under the over hang' belongs to MTCC. Anyway, the criminal code does allow for a search OF ANY PERSON incident to arrest. It is not common practise for a male to thoroughly pat down a female...you weren't searched/touched in your private areas...but pockets, purses, waistbands, arms and legs etc..are commonly searched if there is no female officer immediately available.

[markhazzard]

With respect to the bruises...where did you get them from? The whole incident was caught on video and you were never struck by the officers. You may have sustained them while you were struggling to avoid being arrested.

[firebird403]

You're an idiot. I work in the law enforcecment field. You can be searched provided its not an extensive search you moron. They do it to make sure you don't have any weapons or methods of escape or drugs. And its for their safety. Later on they can do a more extensive search with a female officer present. And if a property owner or manager or agent asked you to leave and stop what you're doing, then do it. You got arrest because you're stupid. Serves you right.

[cherryblossom1979]

you are obviously an abusive person, as evidenced by your comment. And just because it might be legal for cops to be total assholes and bait a violent incident just because they feel like being difficult, that doesn't mean that the general public can't outcry because they see evidence that their public servants are excessively using their power to mistreat earnest human rights activists.

[cherryblossom1979]

oh btw - I was speaking referring to firebird's comment. and just to reiterate, I was talking to the employees of the building when the office attacked me, out of the blue. I wanted to peacefully resolve the situation and had indicated that I was willing to go accross the street, I just wanted a note saying that the sidewalk was private (and not surprisingly I learned latter that the are outside of the overhang was in fact public) No wonder they didn't want to write me that note!

[firebird403]

You were the one moving around like an immature person not me. Thats why you got bruises. The cuffs will do that moron. And resisting arrest could have been another charge too. You were obviously on a portion if not all of PRIVATE property so I fail to see why you you're whining about being arrested. If you don't agree with an arrest, do the ADULT thing and prove your case in a court of law. you call me abusive? no..you posted the vid, you leave yourself open for comment, idiot.

[firebird403]

Abusive person? LOL! Yeah okay! SURE! Thats why i'm married with a kid. GROW UP. Its legal for cops to do their jobs moron. May I remind you that clearly in the vid YOU were CLEARLY resisting and putting up a struggle. Not me. Thats what happens when you try and fight and resist an arrest. EVEN IF for arguement sake an arrest is illegal thats what the courts are for. Dummy. And bruises..thats what happens when you try to struggle. Cuffs tighen automatically unless locked.

[cherryblossom1979]

are you saying that you are the cop in the video? anyways... like I've said before, the cops were lying to me about what was public property and what wasn't.... and far worse than what they did to me was what they did to the guy that tried to stop them from using excessive force on me. this year when I went to the same spot to protest, I was allowed on the area that I was violently evicted from two years ago... because I took it upon myself to learn the actual code of that area.

[firebird403]

No learn how to read!!! U got arrested now deal with it. bye bye.

[fdparis18]

no u can tell an officer that u dont consent to any searches

if cops do its a violations ur a effin liar

[jkbruin73]

the footage is pretty one sided, those two girls were on private property and the police don't have to negotiate when people are breaking any law, tsk tsk Sakura pick your battles better.

[GreenEggsAndSlam]

She was offering booklets to people. What was the threat? Then she was peacefully disagreeing with officers. What was the threat? That cop suddenly and violently jumped her for no reason whatsoever. He wasn't enforcing the law, he wasn't protecting anyone, he was assaulting someone, plain and simple.

Of course, if you're a labourer opposing Barrick in the countries where it operates, you're likely to get much worse - like, shot. While here they can only have you roughed up. Poor Barrick Gold.

[GreenEggsAndSlam]

She was offering booklets to people. What was the threat? Then she was peacefully disagreeing with officers. What was the threat? That cop suddenly and violently jumped her for no reason whatsoever. He wasn't enforcing the law, he wasn't protecting anyone, he was assaulting someone, plain and simple.

Of course, if you're a labourer opposing Barrick in the countries where it operates, you're likely to get much worse - like, shot. While here they can only have you roughed up. Poor Barrick Gold.

[markhazzard]

Actually, she wasn't a threat. She was trespassing, she was told to leave,she refused. The officer went to arrest her and she pulled away and started resisting. He had all of the lawful authority he needed to arrest her. Quite simple really. If it was your property and you wanted someone off of it, you would expect the police to do the same thing. You apparently don't know or understand all of the facts. If you are still confused I can quote the section number and authorities for you.

[GreenEggsAndSlam]

Hey wow! Quoting section numbers! That's almost like making an individual ethical call on the case at hand. Except all the ways it isn't.

I would "resist" too if someone jumped me out of the blue. It's called reflex.

She was no threat, was on what is *functionally* public property, and was conversing with officers. Of all of those it seems it was the third that earned violence.

Those incapable of negotiating normal social interactions are called sociopaths. Except when they're cops.

[markhazzard]

Why do you keep saying she was not a threat? We already agreed on that point. She was trespassing and refused to leave. The negotiations went on for several minutes and at the end of it all she would not leave. She was arrested. A reflex action is something that is virtually immediate, she was passively resistant for longer than that. Where is the police violence? They never struck her in any way....she was handcuffed...pretty routine in every arrest.

[GreenEggsAndSlam]

That was a pretty violent arrest.

And violent or not no one's given a real reason for any arrest at all.

[markhazzard]

You weren't listening again..just like Sakura.

Refusing to leave under the Trespass to property act is an 'arrestable' offence. Again, where was the violence? She didn't want to be arrested (like most people) and she resisted, they forced her arms behind her back. So, other than restraining her 'legally', what would you have them do to get her in the cuffs? I would say it's not easy cuffing someone who does not want to be handcuffed. You might want to research your authorities.

[markhazzard]

Doesn't look like excessive force to me...looks like resisting arrest.  Don't struggle next time.

[cathyameel]

What assholes! I love you Sakura... you didn't deserve that after all of your hard work!