A group of pro-Palestinian protest organizers in Calgary are accusing the Calgary Police Service (CPS) of unfairly targeting them and using excessive force during their protests. The organizers, which include Justice for Palestinians, Independent Jewish Voices Calgary, Watermelon Foundation for Justice, and the Calgary Student movement, claim that they have been subjected to discriminatory acts, double standards in the application of the law, and abuses of power by CPS and city bylaw officers. They specifically point to a gathering at Tompkin’s Park on 17th Avenue where 12 tickets were issued and three people were arrested during what they describe as a peaceful protest.
CPS, on the other hand, denies the accusations and says that event organizers at the September 15th protest refused to collaborate with them. Despite attempts from officers to work with the organizers, the lack of cooperation led CPS to take enforcement steps to ensure the safety of demonstrators, motorists, and the impacted community. The organizers believe that this incident is part of a larger pattern of behavior from authorities, citing another protest in May at the University of Calgary where tensions escalated and protesters were injured by CPS officers. They plan to pursue lawsuits and human rights complaints against the City of Calgary and CPS and demand 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 about how their rallies have been handled. They are also calling on the Calgary Police Commission to hold the police service accountable for their actions. CPS maintains that its officers’ actions are dictated by protester behavior and that it has successfully worked with a variety of protest organizers to facilitate peaceful and lawful protests. The organizers argue that without understanding who is responsible for the alleged discrimination and abuse of power, they are unable to pursue further information about why they have been targeted and why violence persists against pro-Palestinian protesters.
According to CPS, there has been a 260% increase in protests, demonstrations, and rallies since 2019 in Calgary. Between January 2023 and May 2024, CPS recorded 572 protests, 42% of which required varying levels of police intervention to ensure the safety of participants, the public, and officers. The organizers are determined to seek justice for what they perceive as discriminatory treatment from the authorities and are calling for accountability from CPS and the City of Calgary. They believe that the incidents at their protests are indicative of broader issues of systemic discrimination and abuse of power within the Calgary police force and are taking legal action to address these issues.
The ongoing dispute between the pro-Palestinian protest organizers and CPS highlights a larger conversation about police response to protests and the rights of demonstrators to peacefully assemble and express their views. The organizers feel that they have been unfairly targeted and subjected to violence by the authorities, while CPS maintains that their actions are necessary to ensure public safety and order. The outcome of this conflict may have implications for how future protests are handled in Calgary and how police forces interact with activist groups advocating for social justice and human rights causes. It remains to be seen whether the demands of the protest organizers for accountability and transparency will be met by the Calgary Police Service and the City of Calgary.
