September 04, 2012 75 notes
Today is election day in Quebec, and last night my neighborhood rang up in the sound of casseroles banging in honor of the occasion.  Last Friday night, I took this photo as I stumbled upon another student protest downtown.  The police were in the process of arresting these two people and had made a makeshift barricade, using themselves to get in between the arresting officers and the public, who were watching, yelling, taking photos, videos, etc.  I was taking a few photos behind this line, and a police officer put his hand over my lens and stated that I was not allowed to take photos.  I said I was as this was a public space, he told me I needed his permission, I disagreed, he disagreed, two spectators jumped in and started arguing with the cop.  At this point I took a few photos of the police officer who said I needed permission, arguing with the spectators who said I had the right.   I have taken a lot of pictures of cops, and it has always, until this one incident, been relatively simple.  I would go on a limb and say it is one of the easier groups to take pictures of.  You can get close, and in general they are friendly to the camera.  In this case I can only estimate the police officer was either ignorant or lying, both of which are not excusable considering his position.  I’m not judging all cops by this one event as I have had so many positive experiences. As an experiment, I asked the officer next to him a few minutes later if I was allowed to take pictures, he told me to do as I wish…

Today is election day in Quebec, and last night my neighborhood rang up in the sound of casseroles banging in honor of the occasion.  Last Friday night, I took this photo as I stumbled upon another student protest downtown. 

The police were in the process of arresting these two people and had made a makeshift barricade, using themselves to get in between the arresting officers and the public, who were watching, yelling, taking photos, videos, etc.  I was taking a few photos behind this line, and a police officer put his hand over my lens and stated that I was not allowed to take photos.  I said I was as this was a public space, he told me I needed his permission, I disagreed, he disagreed, two spectators jumped in and started arguing with the cop.  At this point I took a few photos of the police officer who said I needed permission, arguing with the spectators who said I had the right.  

I have taken a lot of pictures of cops, and it has always, until this one incident, been relatively simple.  I would go on a limb and say it is one of the easier groups to take pictures of.  You can get close, and in general they are friendly to the camera.  In this case I can only estimate the police officer was either ignorant or lying, both of which are not excusable considering his position.  I’m not judging all cops by this one event as I have had so many positive experiences.

As an experiment, I asked the officer next to him a few minutes later if I was allowed to take pictures, he told me to do as I wish…

May 29, 2012 51 notes
Taken just outside my front door.  Every evening the neighborhood rings up with the sound of banging  pots and pans from balconies.  Then through the evening, multiple protests continue through the city with the same sound. Where the city was divided on the issue of tuition hikes, it has become united in protest of bill 78, an emergency law passed which requires police approval of any assembly or protest of over 50 people.  Virtually all protests now are illegal, and the odd mass arrest occurs of people peacefully protesting.  For the most part police do nothing, given this extreme power they are using “discretion” with regards to arrests.  The protesters are my neighbors, friends, parents and regular people out for a walk to show support against a law in which they feel is unjust.    Contrary to what makes for good TV and Youtube bites, the protests are virtually all peaceful and festive, with a relaxed feeling among the population and the police alike. A few months ago I made this video http://vimeo.com/stevesigloo/manifencours as a reaction to what I saw as the medias opinion on the protests.  I would have never imagined the government would take away our right to assembly as a solution to the conflict.  What’s next…?

Taken just outside my front door.  Every evening the neighborhood rings up with the sound of banging  pots and pans from balconies.  Then through the evening, multiple protests continue through the city with the same sound.

Where the city was divided on the issue of tuition hikes, it has become united in protest of bill 78, an emergency law passed which requires police approval of any assembly or protest of over 50 people.  Virtually all protests now are illegal, and the odd mass arrest occurs of people peacefully protesting.  For the most part police do nothing, given this extreme power they are using “discretion” with regards to arrests.  The protesters are my neighbors, friends, parents and regular people out for a walk to show support against a law in which they feel is unjust.   

Contrary to what makes for good TV and Youtube bites, the protests are virtually all peaceful and festive, with a relaxed feeling among the population and the police alike.

A few months ago I made this video http://vimeo.com/stevesigloo/manifencours as a reaction to what I saw as the medias opinion on the protests.  I would have never imagined the government would take away our right to assembly as a solution to the conflict.  What’s next…?