Atlantica and the Criminalization of Dissent http://halifax.mediacoop.ca/story/3257
According to Rashid, the criminalization of dissent can take many forms, from creating ‘free speech zones’ (also called ‘protest pens’) during demonstrations to police going to the homes of organizers to intimidate them. According to Rashid, the criminalization of dissent in his case took the form of conditions after his arrest that limited participation in protests and public demonstrations. He also points to the ‘trumped up charges’ of possession of a weapon.
“If the average person is walking around with a marble in his or her pocket and they're arrested, that's not going to be considered a weapon...it would be ridiculous; but it's the political nature of the arrest that leads to treating every single possible thing that this person has on them or is doing as a crime, in order to make sure that they're more restricted.”
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