The Association of Criminal Lawyers and Women In Canadian Criminal Defense (WICCD) are criticizing the arrest of a Toronto-based lawyer near a campaign stop by Ontario Conservative Progressives in Hamilton last Thursday.
“We are alarmed that any citizen, let alone a member of our profession, is being treated by the police – apparently in the name of an elected official – with so much contempt for the electoral process and the right to exercise freedom of expression. two are cornerstones of our democracy, “the statement said Monday.
Sa’d said last week that he tried to take part in a rally by PC leader Doug Ford near Hamilton airport. She said she responded to attend the event, but staff did not allow her to enter and they called police to enter.
She was eventually arrested before being released from the property and fined for intrusion.
Hamilton police initially said she was arrested for blocking a road and being on private property amid a protest.
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Sa’d and the group that organized the protest said it was not true. They said she was not part of the protesting group and was arrested long before any protests took place.
Sa’d said she believes she was not allowed to enter the event and was eventually arrested for her criticism of Ford and other political leaders. He has a strong presence on social media for his cartoons and videos criticizing politicians and people protesting against public health measures.
On Monday afternoon, Hamilton police released a “clarification,” saying Sa’d was asked to leave the event and when he did not comply, she was arrested, released from the property and fined for intrusion. .
“After taking a closer look at the incident, we felt that clarification was needed as to the reason for the arrest,” police spokeswoman Jackie Penman told CBC Hamilton, adding that the matter was he was in court.
Penman said officers acted under the Trespass to Property Act. He did not answer questions about whether officers conducted their own assessment before making the arrest or whether they acted solely on a complaint from PC or event representatives.
The PC Party declined to answer CBC Hamilton’s questions on Monday or last week about the incident.
“Creepy effect” on BIPOC communities: law groups
When asked about the incident at a campaign stop on Friday, Ford did not directly address the question of whether he supported the arrest or the ballot.
“I want to thank the Hamilton police. They always have a hard job,” he said in response.
The Bar Association and WICCD said Sa’d has never been violent when he attended political rallies and other events, but that in the past he has been asked to leave PC meetings.
Sa’d, a Toronto lawyer, says she shouldn’t have been denied entry to the Ford rally in Hamilton because of her views. (Taylor Simmons / CBC)
They say this shows that he was denied entry and was eventually accused of failing to align his political views with the PCs.
“Those seeking public office must remember the will of the people and the right to political dissent. We reject the use of criminal justice, a powerful tool, as a method of stifling such dissent,” law groups say.
They also said that the fact that Sa’d is a woman of color will have a “creepy effect” on communities seeking equity.