Poster Alleges Rape By Metro Security

“I was raped by metro security!”

That is the first line on the piece of paper i saw posted on the inside of a metro carriage two days ago, on my way home from Christmas shopping. In fact, as i looked around, i saw that whomever had posted it had put up a half-dozen such posters in that carriage alone.

And as the metro continued on its way, i saw similar posters had been taped up in some of the stations we passed through…

The complete poster (spelling mistakes intact) reads as follows:

I WAS RAPED BY THE METRO SECURITY!
I was sexually assaulted several times by the metro police during the late 80’s and 90’s at the Berri QUAM Metro Station!
They covered it up!
I was under the age of 18.
They lied in court to throw me in jail.
They said in was a raciest in court so the prisoners would attack me!
They did it to me so many times that nobody would believe me!
Still there is no justice!
Be warned the Metro Security is corrupt & they are still working!

What to make of this?

I have seen the metro police beat a guy – with their billy clubs – so viciously that a crowd formed around them, shouting/pleading for them to stop. I have seen them drag a Black teenager out into the snow for having shouted “Jah Live!” to some friends on Christmas Eve - according to the guards, his behaviou indicated that he was on drugs! (In each of these cases they then alled the “real police” who came and arrested the victim.) I have seen them trying to stare down teenagers who looked the “wrong way.” And I have seen them cruising young women – sometimes quite aggressively.

Suffice to say that i was not surprised when back in 2002 one of the guys arrested in relation to a child prostitution ring in Montreal turned out to be a metro security guard.

In fact, i believe the only reason that people have not been dying at their hands is that they don’t have guns.  (This situation may change as many security guards are now to be recycled into police, who are going to be patrolling the metros with guns...)

So the allegation being made by our anonymous posterer – that metro security raped him or her repeatedly – certainly falls within the realm of possibility, in my opinion.

What do you think?

3rd International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers

Montreal, December 17th, 2005

Montreal’s Coalition for the Rights of Sex Workers will be organizing a march on December 17th as a call to end violence against sex workers. Inspired by a demonstration by the Italian sex worker organization Comitato Peri Diritti CiviliI Delle Prostitute Onlus we will carry red umbrellas as a symbol of strength and solidarity.

Join us at 16h in front of the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde (TNM), 90 Ste. Catherine O corner St. Urbain (The TNM is a former brothel).
We will walk with our red umbrellas eastwards to Parc Campbell (corner Ste. Catherine and Alexandre de Sève - Métro Papineau).

Bring a red umbrella - a few umbrellas will be supplies for those who do not have one.

We will walk in peace, distributing pamphlets to inform the public on sex worker rights.

For more info:
lacoalition2000@yahoo.com

To learn more about other events being held for the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, please visit this site.

Journée Internationale pour mettre fin à la violence faite aux travailleuses et travailleurs du sexe

Le samedi 17 décembre 2005
La Marche des parapluies rouges!
Venez marcher.

Rendez vous à 16hrs en face du Théâtre du Nouveau Monde (TNM), au 90 St Catherine  coin St- Urbain Le TNM est un ancien bordel)
Nous marcherons avec nos parapluies rouges vers l’Est jusqu’au parc Campbell (coin Ste-Catherine et Alexandre de Sève - Métro Papineau).

Apportez un parapluie Rouge.
(Quelques parapluies seront fournis pour ceux qui n'en ont pas)

Tout se dérouleras dans la paix, en distribuant des dépliants pour sensibiliser la population sur les droits des travailleuses et travailleurs du sexe.

Pour plus amples renseignements: http://www.lacoalitionmontreal.com