Thread by @defund604

[THREAD ON POLICING] March 15 - International Day Against Police Brutality AKA #IDAPB #IDAPB2021

#IDAPB was first observed in 1997 thanks to organizing by the Collective Opposed to Police Brutality (Montreal), and the Black Flag group (Switzerland).

1/21

“Cdn” media portrays police brutality as something that stops at an arbitrary border -everywhere there are police there is police brutality. During the #BLM protests of 2020, Montreal police used tear gas against protesters, a chemical weapon banned for use in warfare.

2/21

From 2000-17, the #VPD in the #DTES and the #RCMP in Northern BC (V0J) killed people at the highest rates in Canada. When police attend wellness checks, the results can be fatal. Over 70% of those killed by police in BC were experiencing a mental health crisis.

3/21

Police use terms like “street disorder” to dehumanise unhoused people + regularly use violence against vulnerable and impoverished people in the #DTES. The stats from 2000-17 across Canada are clear: Indigenous people are 4.8% of pop'n//15% of people killed by police.

4/21

Black people are 3.4% of the pop'n//9% of people killed by police. Police brutality is used by settler-colonial govts to maintain /increase systemic inequality based in white supremacy + continue “Canada’s” genocidal violence against First Nations, Inuit + Métis Peoples.

5/21

We stand in solidarity with those communities most targeted by police: BIPOC, disabled people, 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, drug users, sex workers, unhoused people, + anyone who is systemically impoverished by police-oriented settler colonial ideologies and budgets.

6/21

It’s time to rebuild our public systems with an orientation towards consent, healthcare, public wealth, and environmental stewardship. Policing was created by people, and it can be dismantled by people.

#DefundThePolice
#DismantleThePolice
#AbolishThePolice

7/21

The #IDAPB was created to commemorate those whose lives have been taken by police, to uplift survivors of police brutality, and to create solidarity among organisers. This day has been observed in Argentina, France, Mexico, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Belarus, US +++

8/21

We now respectfully remember the 5 people killed by police in the 604 region since 15 March 2020:

9/21

Name unknown. Killed by Richmond RCMP and private security. During arrest. 28 May 2020.

#IDAPB #IDAPB2021

10/21

Name unknown. Killed by Delta Police. During arrest. 30 May 2020.

#IDAPB #IDAPB2021

11/21

Howard Glen Hill. Killed by Trinity Western security guard Jack Cruthers Hutchison. 30 September 2020 (died days later).

#IDAPB #IDAPB2021

12/21

Name unknown. Killed by VPD. 26 November 2020.

#IDAPB #IDAPB2021

13/21

Chester. Killed by VPD. 5 January 2021.

#IDAPB #IDAPB2021

14/21

These deaths at the hands of police were preventable. Join us in working to build a better world!

CALL TO ACTION (1/3)

@pivotlegal has an open letter/email tool calling on city of vancouver to prioritize permanent alternatives to policing

pivotlegal.org/take_action_pr…

15/21

CALL TO ACTION (2/3)

Our friends at @DefundCa have updated their email tool. you can quickly send a letter to relevant colonial politicians.

defund.ca/vancouver/

16/21

CALL TO ACTION (3/3)

Sign the open letter released by @BraidedWarriors @BLM_Van & @defund604 in response to violent #VPD conduct

bit.ly/3aZSW1W

17/21

Follow these organizers for ongoing updates re:policing
@defund604network | @cops_out_of_schools | @DefundVPD | @DefundCa | @critcrim | @appsurrey

Learn about + join local mutual aid networks!

18/21

Learn about your rights and how to film police effectively

Pivot has some know your rights resources:
pivotlegal.org/know_your_righ…
pivotlegal.org/know-your-righ…
pivotlegal.org/know_your_righ…

19/21

Don't forget! It's always OK to #FilmThePolice AKA #CopWatch.

Resource on filming police:
huffingtonpost.ca/entry/filming-…

20/21

#IDAPB//#IDAPB2021: remember the dead + fight like hell for the living.

21/21