March 15, 2003, marks the seventh year of this

international day of protest and solidarity against

police brutality. It first began in 1997 as an

initiative of the Black Flag collective in Switzerland

along with the help of 'le Collective Opposé à la

Brutalité Policière' (COBP-Montreal). Since its first

year, the International Day Against Police Brutality

(IDAPB) has been a success. This date was chosen

because on March 15th, two children, aged 11 and 12,

were beaten by the Swiss police. This day is also an opportunity to create and

strengthen an indispensable international solidarity

against the ever-increasing collaboration amongst

global police forces. The IDAPB is one step in ending

the isolation of groups and individuals who, engaged

in this struggle, are subjected to daily repression.



The police, the right arm of the State, abuse their

power on a daily basis and exercise violence with

total impunity. Within the police brotherhood, the

complicity of silence eradicates the possibility of

one police officer's innocence. Everywhere they

continuously violate the very laws that they are

supposed to uphold. The police check I.D. without

reason, ticket, harass, steal, spy, beat, deport,

arrest, imprison, torture and kill. Their primary

targets are "the undesirables of society": the poor,

the homeless, Indigenous peoples, people of colour,

immigrants and persons with irregular status ("illegal

immigrants" and people working under-the-table), sex

workers, activists and student activists, the

marginalised, organised workers, queer, gender-based

and feminist activists and people who question and

don't accept the legitimacy of the authorities.



In response to the breadth and depth of

anti-capitalist globalization demonstrations opposing

the fortress of capitalism, the widening gap between

the rich and the poor, the deepening of poverty, the

generalised misery and deterioration of living

conditions, governments invest in their police forces,

in order to maintain, at whatever cost, law and order

for 'social peace'.



The reactionary security craze following the September

11 events in the U.S. gave free reign to world

governments to create new fascist anti-terrorist and

racist anti-immigration laws. Systematic surveillance

of all means of communication, tougher border controls

(if not their closure) and total discretionary powers

to all police forces directly affect all

"undesirables" (the 'dangerous' class).



Facing a global police state, we have the

responsibility to act and support all victims of State

force. We urgently invite you to participate in the

International Day Against Police Brutality (IDAPB).

Until now, this event has taken place in several

forms: street theatre, murals, publications,

demonstrations, conferences, postering, workshops,

exhibitions, radio and television shows and other

cultural events. Some groups have organised more than

one activity while others have formed coalitions. All

collectives or individuals decide on what type of

action, depending on the political climate of their

country, the energy and willingness of people to

organise an event, the resources available, etc. The

key thing is the imagination and the creativity of the

people involved.



POLICE = LEGAL TERROR!

DOWN WITH POLICE STATES EVERYWHERE!

ORGANISE THE INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST POLICE

BRUTALITY!



Some suggestions and needs:



* If you can't organise for March 15th, try to

organise as close to the date as possible.

* If you can't or don't want to participate, please

spread and forward this message.

* We need more languages, so any translation of the

message is very much appreciated. Could you please

send the translations to the below email addresses, so

that we can publish them on our websites.

* If you organise anything, can you please let us

know, in order to strengthen solidarity and to be able

to build a publication about this worldwide event.

* For questions, commentaries, or to find out more

about COBP-Montréal and COPB-Vancouver please contact

us and visit our websites.



COBP-Montréal

c/o The Alternative Bookshop

2035 St-Laurent, 2nd floor

Montreal, Quebec

H2X 2T3