Police keep lid on Calgary race demos
Calgary police turned out in force on Saturday morning to prevent two opposing demonstrations from turning violent.
nsp. Kathy Grant of the Calgary Police Service (CPS)said that almost 200 anti-racism demonstrators gathered the Calgary Municipal Building at about 9:30 a.m. MT to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which is on March 21.
A group of 15-20 "white pride" demonstrators also held an event in the downtown core, beginning at 10:30 a.m.
A group of 15-20 "white pride" demonstrators also held an event in the downtown core, beginning at 10:30 a.m.
"While the majority of demonstrators were peaceful, there were a small number of people on both sides who seemed intent on confronting one another," Grant said. "As part of their role to enable peaceful demonstration and ensure public safety, CPS officers prevented confrontations from occurring,"
Police blocked off several downtown streets and physically separated the groups.
Two men arrested
One of the anti-racism demonstrators was arrested and quickly removed from the area. Police said he was concealing something that police officers believed were potential weapons.
He had a hammer and crow bar in his bag, and charges are pending, Grant said.
Earlier in the day another man was arrested near City Hall on an outstanding warrant unrelated to the day's event.
John Mar, a Calgary alderman and former RCMP officer, spoke out against the supremacists during the anti-racism rally.
"I represent a huge portion of the downtown of Calgary and I know that this is completely contrary to Calgary values, to Alberta values and Canadian values," Mar said.
"I wanted to come down and show my support not only for the Calgary Police Service but for the citizens of Calgary and understand that this is not reflective at all of the values we hold as Canadians."
People dispersed quietly when the demonstrations ended at about 1 p.m.
Grant said that the hate crimes sub-unit of the Calgary police's diversity resources unit was involved in Saturday's police presence.
"The hate crimes portfolio is responsible for co-ordinating investigations, training all CPS members in the area of hate crime and hate incident investigations, as well as educating the public on the importance of reporting hate crimes," Grant said.
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| Tension was high when 200 anti-racism marchers met up with 20 'white pride' demonstrators in downtown Calgary on Saturday. (Carla Beynon/CBC) |
nsp. Kathy Grant of the Calgary Police Service (CPS)said that almost 200 anti-racism demonstrators gathered the Calgary Municipal Building at about 9:30 a.m. MT to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which is on March 21.
A group of 15-20 "white pride" demonstrators also held an event in the downtown core, beginning at 10:30 a.m.
 |
| On Saturday, 200 anti-racism demonstrators in Calgary marked the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which is on March 21. Carla Beynon/CBC |
A group of 15-20 "white pride" demonstrators also held an event in the downtown core, beginning at 10:30 a.m.
"While the majority of demonstrators were peaceful, there were a small number of people on both sides who seemed intent on confronting one another," Grant said. "As part of their role to enable peaceful demonstration and ensure public safety, CPS officers prevented confrontations from occurring,"
Police blocked off several downtown streets and physically separated the groups.
Two men arrested
One of the anti-racism demonstrators was arrested and quickly removed from the area. Police said he was concealing something that police officers believed were potential weapons.
He had a hammer and crow bar in his bag, and charges are pending, Grant said.
Earlier in the day another man was arrested near City Hall on an outstanding warrant unrelated to the day's event.
John Mar, a Calgary alderman and former RCMP officer, spoke out against the supremacists during the anti-racism rally.
"I represent a huge portion of the downtown of Calgary and I know that this is completely contrary to Calgary values, to Alberta values and Canadian values," Mar said.
"I wanted to come down and show my support not only for the Calgary Police Service but for the citizens of Calgary and understand that this is not reflective at all of the values we hold as Canadians."
People dispersed quietly when the demonstrations ended at about 1 p.m.
Grant said that the hate crimes sub-unit of the Calgary police's diversity resources unit was involved in Saturday's police presence.
"The hate crimes portfolio is responsible for co-ordinating investigations, training all CPS members in the area of hate crime and hate incident investigations, as well as educating the public on the importance of reporting hate crimes," Grant said.
