Serve Not Rule

On Saturday I stood in the middle of intersection Queen and Spadina, my arms raised in the air holding a sign that read ‘Serve Not Rule’. Around me a crowd of hundreds chanted ‘take it back, take it back’; the inference was the energetic reclaiming of the place where police surrounded and captured a group of peaceful civilians during the G20 meetings. Thanks to the internet there is no secrecy about these events; hundreds of street reporters now capture pictures and video of everything that occurs.

The march began at Queen’s Park; the gathering for civil liberties was preceded by a gathering to question the powers of the OSPCA. Together the groups merged to walk through the streets of Toronto and proclaim basic compassionate rights for all creatures. Within the group, which numbered around 2000, were numerous messages. Many people carried signs stating their opinions in creative ways. A common theme and chant was simple: What do we want? Public Inquiry. When do we want it? Now! Whose streets? Our streets!

It is important to clarify that the growing dissent is not against the police as individuals. The officers who work in Toronto are dedicated people who spend their careers training to do their job well. We all hope for the availability of police to serve and protect; to guide crowded events; to help us when called upon. In order to deliver these services it is necessary for police to have certain powers; we grant these powers with expectation that they will be used honourably. When police power is abused like we saw during the G20, the public gets pissed off.

In Canada it is against the law to strike a police officer, even in self-defence. I agree with this ideal; police are public servants doing a job that deserves respect. However, when police attack people who are not defending themselves a line has been crossed. Pepper spraying a seated person is not acceptable behaviour; arresting a woman for blowing soap bubbles is just juvenile. The excessive force that was displayed while guarding the G20 is not what we pay the police to do. Serve not rule.

The same concept applies to the government. The power system is headed by the Unholy Trinity, a group consisting of banks, government and police. Together they control the way the world runs today. The G20 meetings set dangerous precedents where kings gather while the rebellious citizens are kept back by the Praetorian guards. It is time to change the way that things work; the government exists to serve the people, not to rule them.

We do have a dilemma. The history of humanity is full of conflicts between ‘us and them’. Ultimately power struggles are won by those with the greatest resources; the Unholy Trinity is in a very powerful position. The dilemma is that the banks, government and police force consist of thousands upon thousands of people. Within these groups are many spiritual people doing what they feel is right, or what is necessary to make a living. We cannot vindicate the people in these institutions; healing comes from merging rather than destroying.

Along the march were numerous bicycle police, who we thank for their service yesterday. At each intersection traffic was stopped or redirected while the crowd passed; at designated turns in the published parade route the bicycles were positioned to guide us in the proper direction. Again this movement is not about demonizing police; it is about changing some key concepts in the way that our civilization operates.

As a marching young woman boldly proclaimed on her sign, ‘We Will Not Shut the fuck up!’