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Toronto's secret ID law used to arrest G20 protestor

Alan sez, “In Canada you’re not required to show ID. Except if you’re in the ‘G20 Zone’. You see, the law allows an exemption to the ‘show ID’ principle for public works. These are usually things like power stations, dams, etc. Well, the government got clever and just declared the entire area a ‘public work’ so police can go around demanding ID.

The best part of this? The law that made this happen won’t even be PUBLISHED until after the G20 is over. So nobody knew about it until the cops arrested someone.”

And the guy they arrested? They put him in a cage.

Vasey was arrested Thursday afternoon while exploring the G20 perimeter with his friend, Cameron Fenton. He said they were just “walking around” when they were stopped by police at York St. and Bremner Blvd.

“The officer told me, ‘I am going to have to place you under arrest if you don’t show your identification,’ and I replied ‘I’m not comfortable with that.'”

Vasey said he had been provided with legal information prior to the G20 from the Toronto Community Mobilization Network, an umbrella group supporting thousands of protesters descending on the city.

Man arrested and left in wire cage under new G20 law

(Thanks, Alan!)

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