VPD asks ‘legit’ protesters to help weed out troublemakers

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – If you’re going to the Occupy Vancouver protest at the Vancouver Art Gallery today, police want you to keep your cellphone camera handy and not to wear a mask.

“We… expect lawful protesters equipped with cell phone cameras will play a vital role in the apprehension and detection of lawbreakers,” Cst. Jana McGuinness tells News1130.

She says police expect thousands of people to attend the event but don’t expect it to become violent.

To that end the VPD is asking people to use their iPhones and Blackberries to help weed out troublemakers.

“We would hope that the pervasive nature of cell phone cameras and closed-circuit TVs along the route and in the area will further provide for everyone’s safety,” she says.

McGuinness warns police will approach those with their faces covered.

“You have no business wearing a mask at a legitimate protest,” she says. “You’re not there to share your cause or express your views if you’re masked up, and in our experience people wearing masks in the past have committed criminal acts and violence.”

McGuinness adds plenty of officers will be out on the streets and the force has asked other police agencies for help if need be.    

The VPD will also be passing along information through social media.

“The VPD will be communicating through Twitter and Facebook throughout the protest with public safety information, road closures, any parking advice we can offer, and updates on any breaking situations,” McGuinness says, adding drivers should brace for delays and road closures downtown.

Rally organizers have said all along it will be a peaceful protest, but with the Stanley Cup Riot still on people’s minds, some people aren’t so sure.

Leo Knight with Paladin Security says it’s the “professional protesters” that police will have to keep an eye on.

“Anything has the potential to get out of hand, but in this particular case I think you’re going to see a lot of the same actors that were involved in the Stanley Cup Riot… [those who] triggered it will be involved… Members of the Anti-Poverty Coalition… it’s all the usual faces,” he says.

However, Knight says because it’s a daytime event, alcohol likely won’t play a factor on Saturday, like it did during the hockey riot in June.

He says police aren’t going to tolerate rowdies getting violent.

“Zero tolerance is a hard thing to define,” he says. “I think the VPD will be much more ‘on edge.’ They’ll be more ready for the triggers of trying to incite anything. I think they’ll be much more responsive than they were able to be on June 15th… perhaps as early as they could have been.”

Some shop owners downtown have hired extra security, just in case things get out of hand.

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