This suggestion that it was the activists' and journalists' fault/"we deserved what we got" for acting upon our democratic right to protest and cover that protest that I find troubling.
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It follows that (troubling) notion by police that it is a woman's fault for dressing like a "slut" if we get raped.
Or that it was perhaps my fault that during that weekend I got shoved to the ground for not walking fast enough to evade police (I have a dis/ability that affects my mobility). Or in fact, it was my fault as a person with a dis/ability to even go to a protest. "You should have stayed home, crip!"
Or it was John Pruyn fault for not getting up fast enough when the G20 police began their "MOVE" - BANG - "MOVE" - BANG - "MOVE" chant, causing the police - while in the process of his arrest - to pull off his artificial leg.
Let me set some facts straight.
John Pruyn and I both had the right to attend the G20 demonstrations regardless of our dis/abilities.
In fact, everyone who came out to the G20 demonstrations had the right to attend.
Any attempt to shame, any feelings of anger towards us, are misplaced.
It's curious/troubling that the Canadian public could have such a reaction to the desire for citizen participation in democracy since this is not only a right that our beloved vets fought so bloody hard for.
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/krystalline-kraus/2011/03/activist-communique-g20-and-why-i%E2%80%99m-glad-we-didn%E2%80%99t-stay-hom