(The following article is from the March 16-31, 2009, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $25/year, or $12 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $25 US per year; other overseas readers - $25 US or $35 CDN per year. Send to: People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 133 Herkimer St., Unit 502, Hamilton, ON, L8P 2H3.)

People's Voice Editorial

The nauseating performances by RCMP officers at the Braidwood inquiry into the October 2007 tasering death of Robert Dziekanski underline the importance of winning genuine public control over this rogue force. At times during recent testimony, observers were torn between tears and laughter at the absurd fabrications presented on the witness stand. If one was to take the words of the four Mounties who killed Mr. Dziekanski at face value, the police in Canada would have carte blanche to use any amount of force to attack any civilian at any time, since there is always some way to imagine a "potential deadly threat." In reality, of course, many more people are killed and wounded by cops than vice-versa, with members of racialized communities the most frequent targets of police violence.

     As the February 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver draws nearer, the implications of uncontrolled security services are truly frightening. Over 11,000 troops and police will be at the Olympics, trained to use force to quell any perceived threat to this corporate carnival. The labour movement and all democratic forces should step up the demand to put these uniformed thugs on a tight public leash before the Olympics hits town.