Encampment protesters to speak on ‘brutal and violent’ police arrests, response to J.C. Beemer evictions

In a Saturday night tweet, Hamilton Police Chief Frank Bergen put out a statement on the arrests that took place during a tense standoff between housing advocates and officers at J.C. Beemer Park on Wednesday.

The police chief described the chaotic" event, which resulted in five individuals being charged with assault or obstruction of justice including Hamilton Encampment Support Network organizer Sarah Jama, over encampment evictions as not a peaceful protest."

In a statement via Twitter, the volunteer-run advocacy network decried the brutal and violent arrests" by Hamilton police. In one photo taken by Spectator photojournalist Cathie Coward an officer can be seen executing a knee chokehold, or what police call a shoulder pin, while arresting a Black activist, the same move that led to the death of George Floyd in the U.S.

The Hamilton Encampment Support Network will be holding a press conference on Monday at 9 a.m. on Ferguson Avenue North. Those arrested are expected to speak.

In the Twitter video Chief Bergen went on to thank the advocates for the number of societal issues ... brought to light through activism," but did not detail what those issues were.

Delaney Caulfield is a Hamilton-based web editor at The Spectator. Reach her via email: dcaulfield@thespec.com