Halifax police review welcomed by lawyer representing arrested protestors
CTV
A review of a chaotic clash that broke out between police and protestors in downtown Halifax in August 2021 has been ordered by the police oversight board.
A review of a chaotic clash that broke out between police and protestors in downtown Halifax in August 2021 has been ordered by the police oversight board.
Halifax police used pepper spray and force to arrest and disperse protesters who were trying to prevent a homeless encampment from being torn down in front of an old library on Spring Garden Road.
Many in the community were calling for an independent review of the police handling of the homeless encampment eviction and subsequent protest.
Defence lawyer Asaf Rashid represents several protestors who were charged after the clash and says he had hoped a review would have been completed already but it's better now than never.
"I'm glad it's finally happening though, because it puts some scrutiny on police conduct," said Rashid.
“I think people expect that the police will allow people to express themselves and if there's an important issue that people want to show up to a public space to express their views on, people shouldn't feel like they are going to be met with a violent police response."
On Wednesday, Becky Kent, chair of the Halifax Board of Police Commissioners, announced an independent review of the police response, saying the event was traumatic for the entire city.