Train to be a legal observer for 2010 Olympics!  

Pivot Legal Society and the BC Civil Liberties Association have teamed up to train legal observers for the 2010 Olympic Games, and we hope you will get involved!

Like many of you, Pivot and the BCCLA are concerned that when the more than 7,000 police officers, 5,000 private security guards and 4,500 members of the Canadian armed forces arrive in Vancouver this February, their presence may get in the way of citizens’ constitutional rights to freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. Bylaws recently passed by the City of Vancouver suggest that we have good reason to be worried.

We plan to be ready, with dozens of people prepared to act as eyes and ears on the streets. Legal observers will be trained to watch for violations and to document and report them.

As a legal observer, you will help ensure accountability of law enforcement during the Olympic Games.  You don’t need to have any legal background to get involved.  We encourage you to sign up for a training session and find out more about what’s involved in being a legal observer.

You can register by emailing info@bccla.org. Workshops to train observers will be also be held on October 11, November 22 and December 6, all at 2:30 p.m. All workshops will be held at the Britannia Community Centre on Commercial Drive. 

For more information, read the press release or go check out media coverage here

Thank-you, as always, for your ongoing support!

Sincerely,

Laura Track
Pivot Legal Society
Housing Campaign Lawyer

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Photo: The Blackbird