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Geoff assualted by Police during peaceful Bike rally Photo NOW Magazine, p.14
The following is from Geoffrey Bercarich, a Bike Pirates volunteer:

My name is Geoffrey Bercarich, age 26 and life long resident of Toronto, Canada. I was attacked and held illegally by Toronto Police in the “g20 jail” on Sunday June 27th, 2010.

I was riding in a special critical mass of cyclists, there was 600 cylists riding in group to take the media spotlight away from the property damage done to the city core the day before.

The bike ride was peaceful and no street laws where broken. The mass ride was riding along Yorkville and this is where I was attacked. A police cyclist blocked my path directly in front of me; another police cyclist struck me in the face, hitting my teeth with his fist. Another police cyclist threw his bicycle into mine causing me to fall to the ground. The squad of five police officers threw me onto the fallen police bike, pushing me down onto the bicycle and beat me in the face and the groin. The officer that struck me first held my knees open as another hit me repeatedly in the groin. I was then turned on to my stomach and my face was smashed into the street repeatedly, leaving a pool of blood. This all happened without any notification by the police officers as to what crime I committed or why they were attacking me. As the beatings continued I repeated in a strong voice, “I am not resisting.”

Bicycles and cyclists are getting a pretty shitty deal during the G20. As a volunteer photographer for the Alternative Media Centre (AMC) this week I have seen reports about cops giving out tickets to activits for not having bells on their bike and far worse, ring posts are being removed and cyclists in general are being profiled and harrassed. For updates and to share your story check the AMC website 2010.mediacoop.ca or use the #g20report to share you experiences.

More photos here
A ghost bike was installed at old city hall earlier this week. As of Friday at 11AM it was still there and it has been seen by thousands... a very poignant protest, I thought.
This case will not go away i think until cyclists in Toronto get some form of justice.

See more photos.

Location: Bloor Street West at Spadina (southeast side) 6PM Sharp

With Minsiters Vicki Obedkoff & Hans van Nie
Trinity-St. Paul's United Church

Note: The Listings in NOW Magazine and the
City of Toronto Bike Month Guide are slightly
incorrect.

No Justice. No Peace.

Highly recommended viewing
A co-presentation of Toronto Free Gallery
and Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival

A DIFFERENT PATH
D: Monteith McCollum / 96 min / USA
Starring local hero Michael Louis Johnson

Using humour and creativity, activists challenge car culture and take back the streets for pedestrians, cyclists, and wheelchairs. Seattle seniors paint their own scooter lane, Toronto cyclists throw a block party, and a New Yorker commutes by kayak.

Fri May 7 7:15 PM The Royal, 608 College Street - Rush only
Sun May 9 6:30 PM Cumberland Cinemas, 159 Cumberland Street - Tix Available
http://www.hotdocs.ca/film/title/a_different_path

Ghost Bike For Darcy Allan Sheppard - April 26
Next court date is May 25.