image: National Post
Women who claim to have been profiled because of their hairy legs are among a group of seven people planning to serve a $1.4-million claim against police arising out of the violence-marred G20 summit two years ago.
The group from Hamilton alleges the police wrongfully arrested them on June 27, 2010 – a day after vandals went on a rampage in downtown Toronto – as they emerged from a Yonge Street restaurant. They allege they were kept for hours in handcuffs, then held for more than 24 hours at a makeshift detention centre in the city’s east end before being released without charge.
In a statement, lawyer Davin Charney said one of the seven asked the reason for their arrest and an officer told them police “would make one up.”
Charney said some of the plaintiffs believed they were profiled for arrest because of their appearance, which included having hairy legs.
A provincial police watchdog – the Ontario Independent Police Review Director – conducted an investigation into the incident and found the complaint “substantiated.”
Its report found Const. James Ure wrote in his arrest notes that “all parties appear to be protesters; back packs; clothing and females all have hairy legs.” [CBC]
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