Here is a little bit of an update for people on how things have been going down so far in Halifax during the Atlantica protests.

While the CBC has put the slant on to the protesters with reporting that "There was some pushing, and several people were arrested. Police said they used pepper spray only after the protesters used some kind of irritant on them." and also "The protesters broke away from a larger, more peaceful group". For additional information on the CBC coverage please check here

There are people working on getting video uploaded to show that there was excess force used before there was confrontation and there was tasering on protesters that were already in police custody.

Just some of the info and photos from the Maritimes Independent Media Centre

Friday's March Against Atlantica drew a crowd of hundreds, including union activists, environmental activists, anti-capitalists and other Canadians against the predatory exploitation of the Atlantic provinces. After music and speaches in Victoria Park, the march proceeded to Barrington, where a red zone and green zone were formed. The red zone attempted to get closer to the WTCC, but were blocked by police and moved to Spring Garden road. There were many arrests, as protesters were beaten with batons, pepper sprayed, and repeatedly attacked with tazers.

Here are some visuals

Here are more photos from Friday's demostation

“There was some pushing, and several people were arrested. Police said they used pepper spray only after the protesters used some kind of irritant on them." More here

While this photo clearly displays the use of a taser gun the police spokes person had told media that there was no reported accounts of taser guns used. This shows that there is very little accountability to the excess of used force that was used in this demonstration. While I had personally watched a demonstrator who had police officers on top of him get tasered while he was clearly in custody, and a very slow response for the EMT's to arrive after he had passed out. It was not clearly reported to the extent of force that was used in retaliation to force that was used by some of the demonstrators.

This demostrator was arrested after standing on the steps of the WTCC There was no conflict to justify an arrest aside from standing up again two lines of SWAT officers who were blocking the entrance.

I would also put some light to this situation after talking to the person who was assaulted very shortly after the incident while some of us were having breakfast at a cafe. You could tell that there really is a fine line when it comes to damage to private property and where it takes place.

I had also been interview and there will be a short piece on CBC radio that can be heard online here

Here is a audio news piece from Free Speech Radio News Friday, June 15, 2007 with an story by Stu Neatby at the end of the recording.

"Atlantica" Trade Agreement on tap for Canada and New England (3:30)
Business leaders in Northeast Canada and and New England are proposing an economic free trade zone that would link the Canada's Maritime provinces - Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland - with Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and upstate New York. Proponents argue that the so-called Atlantica proposal would be a boost to the economies of both regions, but as Stuart Neaby reports, the "Atlantica" trade corridor has drawn fierce criticism throughout the region.