Katie Nelson
| Katie Nelson | |
|---|---|
Nelson at 2012 Protest
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| Born | July 17, 1992 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Citizenship | Canadian, American |
Katie Nelson (born July 17, 1992) is a Canadian activist currently residing in Montreal, Quebec and attending Concordia University. Nelson is pursuing a degree in Philosophy with a specialization in Human Rights. Nelson is an Anarchist and has organized with the Industrial Workers of the World. Nelson has been involved in strike organizing in the past and her most notable political involvement was during the 2012 Quebec student protests.[1] She is most known for her 2013 civil suit against Montreal Police, Service de police de la Ville de Montréal,[2] and as well a 2015 incident where Nelson was assaulted by two undercover police officers during a protest in Montreal, Quebec.[3]
Activism[edit]
Occupy Wallstreet[edit]
Nelson was first introduced to activism during the Occupy Wall Street movement. She acted as the Media Spokesperson for Occupy Edmonton. Following the end of the encampment, Nelson continued to work with an ad hoc group organizing similar actions prior to an attempt to Occupy the University of Alberta in an effort to bring attention to the devaluation of education in Alberta. Nelson organized primarily in environmental causes in Alberta.[4]
Harper government response[edit]
During this time, the Harper government announced environmental activists were considered terrorist threats.[5]
Quebec student protests[edit]
During the 2012 student strikes of Quebec, known as the Printemps Erables, Nelson became involved in organizing protests and night demonstrations, as well as first aid and street medic training and anti-police organizing.[6]
List of SPVM[edit]
Nelson is most well known for her participation in the creation of a police cataloguing system that sought to document badge numbers, names and offences committed by police during and after the 2012 protests. It is alleged in a civil suit that the creation of this group led to the persistent and active profiling and targeting of Nelson by police.[6]
BDS Israel[edit]
A group of students filed two University complaints against Nelson in the spring of 2015 after her involvement and documentation of the Boycott, Divest, Sanction Israel campaign held at Concordia University during the 2014/2015 academic year.
The complaint was heard in front of a tribunal. Nelson was found not guilty of charges against her.[7][8]
Feminism[edit]
Roosh V[edit]
In early 2016, Nelson was named as a participant in the 2015 confrontation of pro-rape advocate "Roosh V". In the summer of 2015, pick-up artist Roosh V held a conference in Montreal, Quebec despite being condemned by Mayor Denis Coderre.[9] Later that night, he was confronted at a bar where a woman he describes as being seductive and feminist, dumped beer on him. He claimed that he approached the woman and she entered the bar with him and then later poured a glass of beer on him.[10] A video was taken of the event which later went viral.[11][12][13]
In 2016, Roosh V stated Nelson was the woman who assaulted him with beer. He claimed to recognize her from news articles of a separate incident. [14]
Notable Arrests[edit]
October 2013 Detainment[edit]
Nelson was arrested illegally in October 2012, where she was held at a police station in the City of Montreal for nearly thirty hours without charge. Nelson was detained during a protest before being brought to a Montreal police station and confined to a cell without being formally accused of a crime. A 2013 civil suit claims lawyers were unable to reach her and that the police used sleep deprivation tactics the night before she was to appear in court for her release.[3]
Mayday Detainment[edit]
Nelson was temporarily hospitalized during a mass arrest in a May 1 protest in 2013. She was held in a police encirclement outside for twelve hours without food or water. After a police processing bus arrived at a police station in the City of Montreal, Nelson was brought to an ambulance for examination and shortly after released.[15]
Legal Proceedings[edit]
Penal fines and charges[edit]
Nelson received nearly $10,000 worth of fines for her involvement in the 2012 protests in Quebec. She attended nearly 30 trials. These fines included jaywalking, swearing, obstruction and as well several 500.1 and P6 infractions.[2][6][16] Many of her tickets were dropped due to rulings of unconstitutionality. Including the unconstitutionality ruling for municipal by-law 500.1 and as well P6, (both infractions used to criminalize protests in Quebec).[17][18]
Appeals[edit]
Nelson is currently pursuing an appeal for a decision rendered in Municipal Court against her. The case has not yet been heard in front of the Court of Appeal. Nelson states she was found guilty after receiving a fine from a police officer who was not present during the alleged infraction.[19]
Civil litigation[edit]
Nelson is currently involved in one civil suit as a Plaintiff. Nelson filed a lawsuit against the City of Montreal and Montreal Police for political profiling and harassment after claiming to be targeted for over one year by police due to her political activism. Nelson is represented by constitutional lawyer Julius Grey.[20]
2015 Assault[edit]
On the evening of December 18, 2015, Nelson claims to have been attacked by two undercover police at the end of an anti-austerity demonstration. Both police officers were named in Nelson's 2013 on-going lawsuit, and were allegedly recognized by Nelson shortly before the assault.[21]
Nelson was attacked by an individual wearing a black mask. Nelson claims the individual was a police officer. As a result of the assault she suffered damage to the tendons in her left arm, some bruising to both knees and a mild concussion. Nelson was hospitalized for neurological and spinal monitoring immediately after the assault. She was released the following day. She has stated since the attack she requires physiotherapy and as well psychological therapy for post traumatic stress disorder.[21][22][23][24]
The SPVM denied their involvement in the attack despite photographic evidence.[24]
Both police officers were identified and confirmed to have been preset during the time of the attack.[25]
Criticisms[edit]
Nelson was criticized by right-wing blogger Greg Renouf for her promotion of the Animal Liberation Front.[26] After being found not guilty for discrimination at a university tribunal, Nelson was criticized by a Pro-Israel group for her advocacy against political zionism and her involvement in a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Israel campaign at Concordia University.[27] Nelson was heavily criticized by an online forum for her involvement in doxxing and harassing attendees of a casual meetup organized by writer Roosh V.[14]
References[edit]
- ^ Shields, Billy (August 23, 2013). "Lawsuit seeks to establish political profiling as a cause to sue". Global News.
- ^ a b "Student suing Montreal police for harassment". Montreal.
- ^ a b "Concordia student alleges undercover officer put her in hospital". cjad.com.
- ^ Kozicka, Patricia (February 1, 2012). "Occupy Edmonton attempts to occupy University of Alberta". Global News.
- ^ "Environment Activists "Threat To National Security": Harper Government". The Canadian Progressive.
- ^ a b c McLean, Jason C. "Katie Nelson and the tools for change". forgetthebox.net.
- ^ "Concordia undergrad students vote in favour of Israel boycott". Montreal Gazette.
- ^ "Vote YES to BDS". thelinknewspaper.ca.
- ^ "Controversial blogger Roosh V not welcome in Montreal, tweets Denis Coderre". cbc.ca. August 8, 2015.
- ^ Sheridan, Kate. "Roosh V files police report after Montreal woman throws beer in his face". Montreal Gazette.
- ^ "Montreal Women Confronted A Gross Pick-Up Artist For His Views On Rape". BuzzFeed.
- ^ Bein, Sierra. "Militant Misogynist Roosh V Makes it to Canada, Gets Beer Thrown in His Face". VICE.
- ^ Preskey, Natasha (August 11, 2015). "Everyone's watching these women pour beer over pick-up artist who thinks rape should be legal". Cosmopolitan.
- ^ a b "Found her! The girl who assaulted me in Montreal is Concordia student Katie Nelson". rooshvforum.com.
- ^ "Pour un bilan de l'application du règlement P-6". Presse-toi à gauche ! (in French).
- ^ "Student Sues Montreal Police". thelinknewspaper.ca.
- ^ Bruemmer, René. "City cancels thousands of tickets issued under P-6 bylaw". Montreal Gazette.
- ^ Trottier-Chi, Calvin. "Anti-protest law ruled unconstitutional". The McGill Tribune.
- ^ "Help Katie Nelson with Legal and Medical Fees!". Generosity.
- ^ "Student suing Montreal police to establish legal precedent". Toronto Sun.
- ^ a b Cherry, Paul. "Concordia student injured in anti-austerity protest suing police - Montreal Gazette". Montreal Gazette.
- ^ "Undercover Cops Infiltrate Montreal Night Protest". thelinknewspaper.ca.
- ^ "Le SPVM fera le point sur les agents infiltrés". Le Devoir.
- ^ a b "Le SPVM dément avoir recours à des agents d'infiltration dans les manifs". Le Journal de Montréal (in French).
- ^ "Masked cops go on violent rampage during undercover operation". Ricochet.
- ^ http://www.genuinewitty.com/2013/08/05/recently-busted-anarchist-collective-in-london-ontario-promotes-eco-terrorist-arson-feat-the-indignants/katie-nelson-montreal-animal-liberation-front/
- ^ https://canarymission.org/individuals/katie-nelson/
