AG - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, June 29, 1994 A letter Police - were out of © conirol Dear Sir: The day after the riots in Van- . couver as I taok care of my busi-. “-nbss down town I could not help “but over hear the topic on every- ~~ one’s Tainds, the riots. I was sur- prised to hear how many people - supported the Vancouver police’s excessive use of force. What really shocked me, though, was hearing time and time again that the youth shot in the head by police, with a rubber bullet, in some way had it com- ing. To these fascists { would like to point out a few important facts. Firstly, until the police called in the riot squads there was not “Much of a riot to speak of, only pockets of drunken\ hooligans. The last thing that will calm a bunch of drunken youths is an op- pressive police presence. ‘Riot police have: quite the oppo- site effect on a crowd and quickly tum an undesirable situation dangerous. This riot was if not sparked by, fuelled by the over reaction of the Vancouver police. This would also not be the first time Vancouver police have sparked an incident by over zealous use of force. In 1971 eighty people were arrested and many hurt when the riot squad . was called out to squash a protest by marijuana users. A later inves- tigation showed that police had over reacted. Many people also said that in- nocent people would cither have not been in the downtown core or bears J ares: _ dangerous, and may altack even if would not have been harassed. by ‘police. This is clearly false, The Riot Act was never read, and people were given no op- portunity to disperse or escape before police moved in. Many people simple could not escape the advancing police once the tear gas was fired and if you think. the cops were asking who threw ‘the stone before swinging their batons you are mistaken, _ Angty. cops ‘not. unlike angry -unpredictable, unprovoked. Many of the people taken into..cusiody were merely caught in the cross fire between over zealous or sadistic cops on one’. side ‘and the angry mob-on ~ the other. ‘AS for the poor boy that was shot down. The police claim that. he was an instigator. This may or may not d¢ the case. It certainly would not surprise me to find out that story was concocted after he had been taken to the hospital (it would not be the first time police have covered up to protect them- selves). Regardless of whether he was an instigator or not, whether he . damaged property or not, the po- lice had no right or need to shoot him. He was just a drunken kid (it could have been your drunken kid), True, they were aiming for his chest and accidenta ly hit him in.the head but real bullet or rub- ver you don’t shoot. unarmed * oltizens, And why were they aiming. for - the chest anyway. In the USS. it is policy to always aim, below ‘the waist during rot control {no doubt to prevent this lype of acci- dent). This is not. the occupied terri- tories and if our’police can’t put down a bunch of drunken. teens with out tear, gas and bullels whal good are they?. : T do. not hate the police and: J yalue-the fact that they protect the public, including ‘myself, every- day. -T would. just. like . to’ make sure it t stays: that way. - Tan Lorenz, Terrace, B,C, DAY SPECIALS = *> 10% OFF ALL CAR STEREO PRODUCTS!! | Tape - $9.99 | Disc - $15.99 bie as Tape - $9.99 | Dise- $15.99 et we Le ree ren EE seed , COUNTING CROWS ats TOSHIBA 122000 30-INCH CINEMA SERIES FST* SUPERTUBE TELEVISION 30' Viewonle, 32° Picture Tube 8 18)-Chonnel Coble Compatlibic Tape - $9.99 | |i Disc - $15.99] | SNOOP Doce Poogregy fi TOSHIBA "5 Tape - $9.99 Disc - $15.99 g 43Key Preprogiamined Universal Remote Control . m MIS (Stereo/S.A.P.) wilh dox* @ 700 Lines of Horizonto! Resolution @ Colour Picture-in-Piclure - : @ Glass Comb Filter @ Digital Sound Processor (DSP) @ Closed Coplioning @ Shown on Optional Stand ; ’ Where The Professional's Are! VMS HeeFa Vielus Casnetls Ruruiaes Univursal WVAYCR Remote Contrul Auto Head Clyaner ba = Hae ROXETTE pal bento Take Advantage of our Instore 90 Day Lay Away! 20% Down! Ph: 635-9220 Located at the Terrace Shopping Centre 9:00 PM TO 12 MIDNIGHT PAMPERS *6.00 REG. $9.93 “8.99 Fax: 635-3202 ll Thurs., June 30th * 9:30 am to Midnight ALL DAY SPECIAL _ PICNIC SET 12 PIECE. REG. $14.43 9:00 PM TO 12 MIDNIGHT SLEEPING BAGS REG. $19.97 2.701 SUNLIGHT DETERGENT 4.49 8 LITRE. REG. $6.47 ALL.DAY SPECIAL PICTURES 16° X 20”. REG. $4.71 9:00 PM TO 12 MIDNIGHT BLEACH cy a: ¢ 3.6 LITRE. REG. $1.57 | 4647 Lakelse Ave, Terrace B, c COOLER SETS Prices | in effect Thursday, June 30th o. 30: am to ) Midnight - While Quantities Last. Monday - Wednestiay 9:30 am to 6:00 pm Friday - Closed Sunday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm ALL DAY SPECIALS ALL BIKES “99.97 IN STOCK, REG. UP TO $169,99 Lt DAY SPECI 4 PIECE. REG. $37.97 Thursday 9:30 a am - Midnight Saturday 9:30 am - 6:00 pm ALL DAY SPECIAL | ALL SUMMER TOYS *29.99| | 30% OFF || REG. PRICES (DEPT. 236)