Protests, bans on gatherings create balancing act for police
Peel chief says region has seen several demonstrations, some with up to 20,000 participants
Peel Regional Police are facing a tricky balancing act in dealing with mass protests staged during strict bans on gatherings during the pandemic, the service’s chief said Friday.
Chief Nishan Duraiappah gave his assessment of the challenge in balancing competing interests during Friday’s Police Services Board meeting.
Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie raised concerns about the increased number of protests, many of which, she noted, were advocating for legitimate causes and have seen residents availing themselves of their constitutional right to assembly and free speech.
She asked about police tactics to ensure that, “at a minimum, this is being done safely.”
Crombie noted that police have had a difficult time managing these mass gatherings, under the stay-at-home order and other COVID-19 restrictions and public health measures.
The protests are legal, she said, but “obviously frowned on during this time of a pandemic.”
“Other residents are very frustrated when they’re asked not to leave their homes, but, yet, often very large groups come out and protest.”
Duraiappah said Peel has dealt with a slew of protests addressing local and international issues, some of which have seen up to 15,000 to 20,000 participants, in the past couple of weeks.
He said his officers have to weigh each set of circumstances, because, while police must uphold provincial rules, the slightest misstep can sometimes aggravate a peaceful protest.
Duraiappah said his team is now making more of an effort to contact organizers in advance of events.
“Where there are egregious acts that will compromise the safety of the public, we will take action, but, where we can facilitate peaceful protest, we will continue to do that,” he said.
Peel police have taken heat from some community groups, which have raised concerns about police shootings, and have staged numerous protests calling for their defunding, and, even, dismantling of the police.
Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich said these were “complex issues that are difficult to handle while balancing those two competing interests.”
Large gatherings have landed some protesters on the wrong side of the law, with police charging numerous people with various COVID-19-related and criminal offences in recent months.
Seven people were arrested, in April, during a rally in Mississauga to protest the police killing of 62-year-old Ejaz Choudry, who was shot and killed inside his Malton apartment in June 2020.
While police must uphold provincial rules, the slightest misstep can aggravate a peaceful protest
The rally, which was one of many staged in opposition to police killings in Peel in recent months, followed an April decision by Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit to clear the officers who were involved in the fatal shooting.
The organizers called for a protest in front of the Malton apartment building where Choudry had lived — and was fatally shot.
Police alleged that several protestors were arrested after they attempted to breach a police safety line and occupy an active rail corridor.
In recent months, investigators have also issued fines against several participants and organizers they alleged were involved in large and organized anti-lockdown gatherings, including one held at a Mississauga park on May 13. After this event, a 22-year-old man from Mississauga and a 49-year-old man from Toronto, were charged with failing to comply with an order given during a declared emergency.
Fines ($880) were also issued to two people participating in an April 12 anti-lockdown protest led by the “We Are All Essential” group, which gathered in Mississauga. More than 40 people attended, and those that gathered were not wearing masks and not complying with the Reopening Ontario Act (ROA) on gatherings, police allege.
Back in March, more than 100 people linked to the anti-mask group “Stand4Thee” gathered in Mississauga. This led to fines of $880 for three people.